No it does not mean that they must have lost the fire fight. The logic of that man is that if they send a crew to rescue a pilot of Iranian soil, when there were fire fights and the Iranians state they captured the pilot, the Americans must have lost the fight.
Even so he said the Americans tried to be there first... he does not catch what happens when the Americans run into Iranians still being around while the pilot was already transported away.
Usually such pick-ups are done by a formation of Blackhawks, Apaches and best Comanches with only a few men onto the ground. Some Apache pilots attached cargo belts from trucks to their little wings in order to have an emergency bed for any wounded soldier in Afghanistan missions. Modern Helicopters like the Apache can fire rounds almost on a sniper level precision and can even be used as shielding off small arms fire just below an RPG 7. Trained pilots can protect a man surrounded be enemies by using the mounted gun and head visor.
That a C-130 is down means that either the troop build up is not ready and no Blackhawks are around or that both more men were needed over a longer distance which indicates a deep enemy territory penetration mission.
You mount two heavy machine guns like Gatlings or Brownings at the cargo ramps of the C-130 and each at the door. They must be swingable to allow fast entry, and have a locking mechanism like from a car belt or Humvee door lock and practice STOL departure and entrance with the dedicated teams. This adds heavy fire power for very close support and might be the edge in a fire fight when having to land practically into the enemy position.
I suggest a few Javelin ready to pick strapped to the inside walls might be also a great idea.
Those in first as we speak love tight formations, fire power and gunpowder smoke to flatten what ever being ordered to. They ride the heat and don't go dry ice cold.
Just give it to them...
