Hegseth, associates pushed F-15 airmen downed over Iran to appear on ’60 Minutes’ – report

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his department sought to include the two crew members of an F-15 shot down over Iran in April for a "60 Minutes" report on the rescue mission, according to sources. Both airmen were initially hesitant, with one fearing potential coercion to participate. Military officials also expressed concerns about revealing classified details, while Hegseth insisted both should be interviewed.

After the crew members raised worries, Hegseth met with them individually and encouraged participation, resulting in one pilot agreeing to an on-camera interview. The other pilot, Alpha, declined. The Pentagon maintains the decision to participate was solely theirs, emphasizing operational security and denouncing the narrative as false.

Despite intense media competition, including CBS's efforts, Hegseth and his team secured the interview after several months. Concerns arose that the portrayal of the aircrew's heroism was political, and some military personnel were uneasy about disclosing classified rescue details while ongoing combat operations were still in progress.