New Report Details Fuel Crisis Over Tehran, IAF Narrowly Averted Disaster

During an Israeli Air Force operation over Iran, one of the pilots flying a Falcon fighter jet experienced a critical malfunction in the aircraft’s fuel system while soaring at high altitude above Tehran, according to a Channel 12 report.

The unexpected failure triggered an emergency response in the Air Force command center, as officials began preparing for a rare and dangerous contingency: an emergency landing in hostile territory.

In a dramatic turn of events, a refueling aircraft was scrambled and successfully reached the fighter in time. The in-air refueling resolved the malfunction, allowing the pilot to safely return to base.

Inside the command bunker, known as “the pit,” officers reportedly breathed a collective sigh of relief, wiping away the cold sweat brought on by the intense situation.

This near-disaster unfolded alongside another startling revelation: prior to the assault, the Air Force had planned for the possibility of losing as many as ten fighter jets within the first 72 hours of the operation. According to military sources, Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar briefed squadron leaders and mentally prepared them for what could have been a catastrophic response from Iran’s air defense systems.

Baruch Hashem, those grim projections never materialized. The initial Israeli strike was precisely calibrated to target key Iranian anti-aircraft installations. That decisive blow significantly degraded Iran’s air defense network, enabling the Israeli aircraft to carry out their missions without a single plane being shot down.