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A U.S. Air Force pilot and rescue expert shared insights with AFP about what it takes to hide, survive, and extract someone behind enemy lines amid the search for an aviator shot down over Iran. Retired Brigadier General Houston Cantwell, now at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, described the intense experience: “You’re thinking, ‘Oh my God, I was just in a fighter jet flying 500 miles per hour, and now a missile exploded about 15 feet from you.'”
He emphasized that a pilot’s survival training—known as survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE)—would activate early, likely before the parachute touches down. “Your best understanding of where to go or avoid is during your descent,” he explained. With 400 hours of combat flight experience over Iraq and Afghanistan, Cantwell stressed that parachuting carries risks of serious injuries like broken bones.
Once on the ground, the immediate step is to assess one’s condition—can I move? Am I hurt? The pilot then determines their location in relation to enemy territory, identifies hiding spots, and figures out how to communicate. “Avoid enemy capture as long as possible,” Cantwell advised. In desert environments especially, finding water becomes a priority.
Meanwhile, highly prepared Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) teams are activated. These teams, comprising skilled soldiers and pilots already prepared for such missions, provide reassurance that efforts are underway to retrieve the downed aviator—though they won’t undertake reckless risks. The priority is concealment and eventual extraction, which might mean reaching a rooftop in a city or a field in rural areas with helicopter access. Nighttime movement is ideal for staying hidden.
Cantwell also carried a pistol during his flights, highlighting the importance of having personal defense tools when evading enemy forces.
In parallel, CSAR teams—like retired Master Sergeant Scott Fales, now in a standby mode—prepare thoroughly before any rescue operation. Fales, who helped during the 1993 Black Hawk Down incident in Mogadishu, explained that every mission begins with a detailed plan and extensive intelligence gathering. They analyze human intelligence, satellite images, drone surveillance, and signals intelligence to locate the missing pilot.
Once located, real-time plans are crafted within the rescue helicopters. Spotters scan for threats, pilots seek suitable landing zones, and rescue teams verify identities and assess medical needs versus threats. Fales said, “We ask ourselves: what immediate dangers exist? How much time do we have? How badly is the person injured?”
He remains hopeful that the missing aviator in southwest Iran is safe and being hidden by friendly locals or is still evading capture. The combined efforts of intelligence, quick planning, and skilled rescue personnel maximize the odds of a successful recovery in such high-stakes scenarios.
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