Iranian Media Air Footage of Rescue of Yak-130 Pilot Shot Down by Israeli F

Iranian media outlets have published footage of the rescue of an Iranian Yak-130 pilot whose jet was shot down by an Israeli Air Force F-35 during the war with Iran earlier this year.

According to the reports, the pilot ejected and parachuted into the mountains of Lavasan, northeast of Tehran. Search efforts began across the rugged terrain after he bailed out. The published footage shows the moment the pilot was located during the search-and-rescue operation.

The video was also shared by Iranian documentary filmmaker Javad Karaei, who focuses on nature and open landscapes. Iranian reports say the rescue took place in a remote, hard-to-reach mountainous area.

In the video, the rescuer can be heard saying: “Mashallah, mashallah, a thousand times mashallah! Curse their fathers. Mashallah, mashallah, may God protect you. I’m coming to help you, I’d sacrifice myself for you. Are you hurt? Are you hurt? I’d sacrifice myself for your wounds, my dear. We’re walking knee-deep in snow here, but thank God we made it.”

The Yak-130 is a Russian-made jet used mainly as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots, but it can also carry out light attack missions. The first Yak-130s for Iran’s air force were delivered in 2013, and Russia had completed delivery of 12 of the jets by late 2024.

On March 4, the IDF announced that an F-35I “Adir” had shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran. The military later released cockpit footage showing the moment of the shootdown. It was the first time in history that an F-35 had downed a manned aircraft. It was also the first time in more than four decades that an Israeli jet had shot down a manned enemy plane. The last such engagement took place in 1985, when Israeli F-15s downed two Syrian MiG-23s over Lebanon.