This is the astonishing moment an American pilot shouts ‘I’m OK’ to locals after crash-landing in the Kuwaiti desert.
Six US Air Force members survived after parachuting to safety following a mistaken friendly fire incident during an Iranian air assault, the US military said.
One man was approached by a group of locals armed with AK-47s who presumed he was a shot-down Iranian pilot reportedly due to the colour of his parachute.
He is seen surrendering, with one local holding up a pipe.
Another was pictured with a badly damaged hand before being loaded into the boot of a car and taken to safety.
The Kuwaitis argue about what to do with him before one says ‘he’s an American, leave him’.
Moment female US pilot is rescued
One female F-15 crew member is seen standing alone in the Kuwaiti desert as a man approaches her.
She brushes sand from her jumpsuit but appears unharmed.
The man asks: ‘You’re fine? Really? Do you need something to help you?’
She replies: ‘No, I’m OK.’
He responds: ‘No problem, you’re safe, you’re safe… Everything good, no problem.
‘Thank you for helping us.’
Kuwaiti man armed with a metal pipe confronting what he thinks is a shot down Iranian pilot, before realizing he has an American pilot in front of him
Kuwaiti man armed with a metal pipe confronts what he thinks is a shot down Iranian pilot, before realising he has an American pilot in front of him
Provider: X
All six crew members ejected safely from the F-15E Strike Eagles, which can reach speeds just shy of 2,000mph and were in stable condition after being recovered, the US said.
An attack by Iranian aircraft, missiles and drones was underway at the time the planes were shot down.
US F-15 crashes in Kuwait in suspected friendly fire incident as pilot, pictured, ejects safely
US F-15 crashes in Kuwait in suspected friendly fire incident as pilot, pictured, ejects safely (Picture: east2west news)
Iranian state television claimed that Iran had targeted one of the US planes that crashed in Kuwait without elaborating.
Explosions could be heard as one of the planes fell from the sky in flames, said witness Ahmed al-Asar, who rushed to the scene with about a dozen others as an airman parachuted to the ground.
Al-Asar initially thought it was an Iranian pilot, but recognised he was American before rescuers whisked him away.
