Last UpdateApril 4, 2026, 9:09 AM EDT

An A10 Warthog “crashed” near the Strait of Hormuz, but the pilot was recovered. The F-15E pilot was rescued after going down over Iran, but the Weapons System Officer remains missing.

Covered by: Michael Dorgan and Sophia Compton

WHAT TO KNOW

• A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was downed over IranFriday, with the pilot rescued after ejecting safely. The search remains ongoing for the missing Weapons System Officer (WSO). It’s unclear whether the WSO was able to eject or not.
• Two rescue helicopters part of the combat search and rescue operation to find the F15E missing crew member were damaged by enemy fire. There are some reported injuries for those helicopter crew members, but they managed to land safely.
• A second American fighter jet, an A10 Warthog, “crashed” near the Strait of Hormuz after coming under enemy fire, but the pilot was recovered.
• President Donald Trump has been briefed on the downed F-1E, as direct clashes between U.S. forces and Iran intensify. Israeli forces have halted strikes on Iran amid search and rescue operations for the missing F-1E WSO and are assisting the U.S. with intelligence.

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4 hours ago

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Second US jet ‘crashed’ near Strait of Hormuz, F-15E crew member still missing: sources

Cargo vessel, Ali 25, in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026 in northern Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. (Credit: Getty Images

An A-10 Warthog aircraft reportedly “crashed” near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, though the exact location remains unclear, according to sources briefed on intelligence matters.

The pilot was safely recovered.

In a separate incident involving the downed F-15E fighter jet, the aircraft’s weapons systems officer remains missing. It is not immediately clear whether he was able to eject from the aircraft safely.

Two rescue helicopters deployed as part of a combat search-and-rescue mission to locate the missing crew member also came under enemy fire.

Both helicopters sustained damage, and some crew members were reportedly injured, but the aircraft were able to land safely.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

Posted by Sophia Compton

2 hours ago

5 EU ministers urge windfall tax on energy companies they say are profiting from Iran war

European flags fluttering outside the EU Council headquarters in Brussels on March 18, 2026. (Nicolas TUCAT / AFP via Getty Images)

Five European Union countries are pushing for a tax on energy company windfalls as the Iran war enters a sixth week and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to strain global energy markets.

The finance ministers from Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria called on the European Commission to introduce a windfall tax on energy companies they say are profiting from the consequences of the Iran war.

They argue a windfall tax — a levy on unexpected or unusually large profits driven by external events — could help fund relief for consumers facing rising costs.

“It would make it possible to finance temporary relief, especially for consumers, and curb rising inflation, without placing additional burdens on public budgets,” the ministers wrote in a letter to the EU Commission seen by Reuters. 

“It ​would also send a clear message that those who profit from the consequences of the war must do their part to ​ease the burden on the general public.”

The proposal comes as oil and gas prices have spiked since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, triggering a price shock similar to Europe’s 2022 energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Europe’s heavy reliance on imported fuel leaves it exposed to the Middle East conflict’s impact on global energy markets, with gas prices rising more than 70% since the war began on Feb. 28, the outlet reported.

Posted by Michael Dorgan

3 hours ago

Trump seeks $1.5T for military in 2027 budget request, a 42% increase from current levels

President Donald Trump speaking during a Cabinet meeting in the White House Cabinet Room (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump requested $1.5 trillion from Congress for “national defense” in the 2027 fiscal year, a 42% increase from current levels. The White House released Trump’s 2027 budget request on Friday as the Iran war continues.

The request calls on Congress to pass a $1.1 trillion military spending bill, along with an additional $350 billion through a separate budget process to fund key defense priorities.

The White House said the additional funding would go toward “critical Administration priorities,” including expanding access to munitions and strengthening the defense industrial base.

The budget blueprint also proposes $73 billion in cuts to domestic programs, part of a broader effort to redirect federal spending toward national security priorities.

The White House said the proposal focuses on key priorities including reinvigorating the nation’s military, reducing violent crime and strengthening national security, and protecting the homeland through immigration enforcement.

Posted by Michael Dorgan