Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA US fighter pilot, rescued after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iran on 3 April, described seeing Iranian drones swarm in a "jellyfish" formation before he ejected. The pilot recounted to intelligence officials that multiple drones interconnected and moved as one, with smaller drones beneath, suggesting a significant advancement in Iran's mass drone capabilities. The incident marked the first time a US aircraft had been shot down over Iran during the ongoing conflict, with the cause still under investigation, though the drone formation is considered a possible factor. Following the pilot's safe ejection and rescue, a second airman, the weapons-system officer, remained stranded behind enemy lines, prompting a multi-pronged rescue mission. The US president, Donald Trump, announced two days later that the second airman had been successfully recovered, sustaining injuries but reported to be "just fine". In fullDowned US pilot saw Iran drones flying in ‘jellyfish’ formation: ‘Real alien s**t’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Iranian drones flew in ‘jellyfish’ formation as US fighter jet was downed
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA US fighter pilot, rescued after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iran on 3 April, described seeing Iranian drones swarm in a "jellyfish" formation before he ejected. The pilot recounted to intelligence officials that multiple drones interconnected and moved as one, with smaller drones beneath, suggesting a significant advancement in Iran's mass drone capabilities. The incident marked the first time a US aircraft had been shot down over Iran during the ongoing conflict, with the cause still under investigation, though the drone formation is considered a possible factor. Following the pilot's safe ejection and rescue, a second airman, the weapons-system officer, remained stranded behind enemy lines, prompting a multi-pronged rescue mission. The US president, Donald Trump, announced two days later that the second airman had been successfully recovered, sustaining injuries but reported to be "just fine". In fullDowned US pilot saw Iran drones flying in ‘jellyfish’ formation: ‘Real alien s**t’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
