US pilot rescued from Iran breaks silence on 50-hour evasion and rescue

A US Air Force colonel, rescued from Iran after his aircraft was shot down, gives his first account of evading capture for 50 hours and the first US military rescue in Iran in 46 years. The incident, which occurred amid heightened US-Iran tensions, underscores the operational risks of American overflight near Iranian territory. The pilot alleges the Trump administration pressured him to grant an interview for political gain, adding a domestic political dimension to the episode.