Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth played an unusually hands-on role in pushing two Air Force crew members shot down over Iran in April to appear on 60 Minutes. While the Pentagon vehemently denied the report as a complete lie, one airman ultimately agreed to the interview for the program’s season premiere.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth played an unusually hands-on role in orchestrating an interview between a downed U.S. Air Force crew and 60 Minutes for its 59th season premiere. According to reporting, Hegseth and political appointees pushed the two airmen to participate despite initial reservations from both men. Hegseth met privately with [both airmen] and asked whether they wanted to participate rather than forcing their cooperation
after each initially expressed reservations, sources told CNN.
The incident centers on an F-15 crew shot down over Iran back in April. Following the ejection, the two crew members quickly hit the ground going somewhere between 70 and 100 miles an hour, as recalled by the weapon systems officer. The pilot, identified by the call sign Alpha, was rescued within a matter of hours after the two found themselves split up. The other airman, identified only as Bravo, had to hide in a mountain crevice and evade Iranian forces alone for two days, spending nearly 50 hours behind enemy lines with nothing but a handgun to protect himself before his rescuers arrived.
Bari Weiss, CBS News, and the Push for Exclusive Access
The high-level lobbying effort originated from the top ranks of CBS News. Soon after the rescue, CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss told journalists in her newsroom that the bookings of the crew members were top priorities, and she personally lobbied Hegseth to give CBS exclusive access. Weiss assumed her position in October and recently oversaw an overhaul of 60 Minutes, also reaching out to other Trump administration officials.
Three sources indicated that Hegseth and his staff were very enthusiastic to broadcast a dramatic retelling of the incident with both crew members after being approached by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Newly minted Executive Producer Nick Bilton also spoke with Hegseth during the interview orchestration process. The resulting episode features an interview with the secretary as well, alongside U.S. Central Command head Brad Cooper.
Private Meetings and Conflicting Accounts Over Airman Cooperation
Accounts differ regarding the level of pressure applied to the service members. Sources familiar with the matter stated that Hegseth met privately with the airmen, and unnamed political appointees in Hegseth’s office were adamant that both crew members sit for the interview. Military officials were worried the sit-down could let classified details of the rescue effort slip, according to three of the multiple sources who spoke with CNN. One airman aired concerns of being ordered to take part, and while meeting privately with Hegseth ultimately convinced one of the men, the other reportedly still declined.
The interview with the unnamed weapon systems officer, who spent two days injured in Iran alone back in April, airs on Sunday. A Tuesday press release touted the interview as the colonel’s first public account of what happened. In a promotional clip, the weapon systems officer tells correspondent Norah O’Donnell: That day was just another day in the war for us. Until the moment we got hit by an Iranian weapon.
The Pentagon issued a fierce denial through chief spokesperson Sean Parnell, rejecting the reporting entirely.
“This entire story is a complete lie. Neither pilot was compelled to participate in the 60 Minutes special by any member of Secretary Hegseth’s team, including Tami Radabaugh who worked tirelessly to ensure the pilots were given the right of refusal and honored every step of the way.”
Parnell defended the department’s handling of the broadcast and praised the personnel involved, stating: The decision to participate in the interview was each pilot’s alone — because it is their story.
“It is disgusting that CNN would propagate these lies in an attempt to detract from such an exceptional display of American heroism and excellence.”
The Pentagon also emphasized that precautions were taken to protect sensitive military methods.
“As CNN notes, one pilot decided to participate and one did not. Additionally, the Department took great care to ensure operational security, sources, and methods were protected. To suggest otherwise is to denigrate every member of our military who participated in and supported the interview.”
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