(SeaPRwire) –   A search and rescue operation has commenced following the crash of a U.S. fighter jet within Iranian territory on Friday. 

The F-15 jet had two crew members onboard at the time of the incident. While U.S. forces successfully rescued the pilot, the search for the second crew member continues, according to reports from Axios and CBS News on Friday afternoon, which cited anonymous U.S. officials.

TIME interviewed Brigadier General Houston Cantwell and Major General Thomas Kunkel to understand the potential scope of the rescue operation and the military’s procedures for finding and recovering downed personnel. 

“Our entire careers are dedicated to training for this kind of scenario, making us the most highly trained and ready force to undertake such a mission,” stated Kunkel, a former U.S. military rescue helicopter pilot. He added, “We exert immense effort to ensure the rescue and well-being of our aviators who face perilous situations.”

Below is an overview of the military’s approach to conducting search and recovery operations. 

The Rescue Process

“This is an exceedingly intricate undertaking,” Cantwell informed TIME.

Cantwell clarified that the military typically receives notification of an aircraft crash when a crew member ejects, triggering an alert. The immediate and paramount objective thereafter is to pinpoint the location of the crew members. 

“The most crucial detail is the air crew’s precise location, a piece of information that is incredibly challenging to acquire,” he remarked, pointing out that adversary forces frequently try to “spoof” or disseminate misleading data about a downed crew member’s landing site. “It appears straightforward, yet it is remarkably difficult.”

Air Force pilots undergo intensive training for such situations via the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) program. Cantwell noted that for isolated crew members, “the circumstances can be so fluid that no single course of action is universally applicable.”

“Even if it’s been years since their initial training, I assure you it activates instantly,” Kunkel further explained, referencing SERE. He also mentioned that “refresher training is consistently conducted” before combat deployments. 

Typically, crew members carry survival kits that remain with them upon ejection from an aircraft, potentially including a radio device for communication with U.S. personnel. 

Upon locating a crew member, a “rescue package” is assembled, comprising various equipment and personnel, whose successful deployment hinges on a range of environmental and situational variables.

Personnel and Equipment

Drawing from his past mission experience, Kunkel estimates that the ongoing search and rescue operation for the downed crew member in Iran would involve a team of approximately 10 to 20 personnel.

Kunkel identified the HH-60W as the helicopter utilized for such rescue operations, noting its design specifically for these missions. Given the extensive distances these helicopters frequently cover during rescues, HC-130J refueling aircraft will be dispatched to guarantee adequate fuel for the HH-60Ws. 

Cantwell further mentioned that an electronic jamming aircraft might also be deployed to offer protective cover for the mission. Additionally, an A-10, a robustly armored aircraft built for engaging ground targets, will supply an extra layer of defense against hostile forces.

“Should any enemy forces require suppression during the actual extraction, the A-10 will deliver that suppressing fire, enabling the rescue aircraft to access the area,” he explained to TIME.

Notwithstanding the intricate and hazardous nature of the ongoing rescue mission in Iran, Kunkel emphasized that no other force is better equipped to undertake this challenge. 

“The Air Force stands as the sole service specifically structured, trained, and outfitted for this particular mission,” he stated. “We aim for them to understand that every possible effort will be expended to rescue them.”

Key Considerations and Concerns

Several distinct factors can influence a rescue operation.

“The time of day, whether it’s day or night, plays a crucial role,” Kunkel remarked. He pointed out that daytime rescues can evolve into a “race” against enemy forces, as such operations can readily reveal a crew member’s position.

“Should the adversary become aware of our intent to deploy rescue forces, they will likely attempt to intercept those forces,” he stated. “Operating under the cloak of darkness significantly mitigates risk, particularly against less sophisticated threats.”

A further critical factor is the mobility of the stranded crew member—“a truly vital component,” according to Cantwell—since an immobile crew member limits the potential rescue locations.

Rescue teams will additionally assess environmental elements, including whether a crew member is encircled by dense vegetation or thick undergrowth, which could preclude a rescue helicopter from landing. In such instances, the crew might employ a device known as a force penetrator, capable of hoisting an individual into a helicopter without it needing to touch down. 

Cantwell’s primary apprehension regarding this specific rescue mission is the potential for capture. 

“I am convinced that the Iranians would desire nothing more than to apprehend one of our aviators,” he asserted. “It is our aviators who have been responsible for inflicting this damage upon their nation over the past three weeks.”

Should the U.S. crew member still being sought manage to evade capture, Cantwell’s greatest worry shifts to their survival amidst severe desert conditions. 

“My foremost concern would simply be water. If one were to find themselves in the desert, there are limited options for concealment,” he concluded.