US pilot survived for two days behind enemy lines with broken back after Iran shot down plane: ‘It was terrifying’

The airman had to be rescued from the mountains of Iran in April after his jet was downed by Iranian fire

The American air force colonel whose fighter jet was downed over Iran in April has shared how survived for two days behind enemy lines with a broken back, arm and shoulder while waiting for help to arrive.

‘Bravo’ was the weapons-system officer in a two-man crew flying over Iran on 3 April when their F-15E Strike Eagle was hit by Iranian fire. The pilot in the front – ‘Alpha’ – ejected successfully, but Bravo came down in the mountains.

In his first public account of what happened, he told CBS News’ 60 Minutes how he free-fell to the ground at speeds of up to 100mph with a damaged parachute, torn up by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile.

“At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen,” he said. “So I paused, right then, and I prayed, ‘Lord, your will be done. But if I’m getting through this, I need help.’”.Read the full now & the viral video.