American pilot rescued from Iran crash saw 'jellyfish' drone swarm: 'Real alien s***'

An American F-15 pilot rescued after being shot down in Iran in April described seeing a “jellyfish” drone swarm before ejecting, according to a report cited by CNN. The April 3 attack targeted an F-15E Strike Eagle carrying the pilot and a weapons-system officer. The pilot was rescued hours after ejecting, while the other crew member avoided capture for more than a day before being recovered by U.S. forces. During a debriefing with U.S. intelligence officials, the pilot said he saw multiple interconnected drones moving “as one,” with smaller drones underneath “like legs,” calling it “Real alien s***,” per CNN’s account. The exact reason for the jet’s loss remains under investigation. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya command said it used a new air-defense system to target the aircraft with three drones and two cruise missiles.