As American forces race against time and Iran¡¯s military to locate an aviator shot down Friday, a former U.S. Air Force pilot and a rescuer explain what it takes to hide, survive and extract someone behind enemy lines.

¡°You¡¯re like, ¡¯Oh my God, I was in a fighter jet two minutes ago, flying 500 miles an hour, and a missile just exploded, literally 15 feet (5 meters) from your head,¡¯¡± said retired Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, who is now at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

That said, a pilot¡¯s training ¡ª known as survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) ¡ª would likely kick in before he or she parachutes to the ground.