On March 20, 1980, President Jimmy Carter authorized Operation Eagle Claw, a failed mission to rescue American hostages held in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The mission encountered multiple setbacks, including a helicopter crash that killed eight American servicemen. The hostages had been held since November 1979, when Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy, demanding the extradition of the Shah of Iran. The failure of the mission was a significant blow to U.S. morale and led to widespread criticism of the Carter administration. The hostages were eventually released in January 1981, shortly after President Ronald Reagan took office.