keep thinking planes cant be brought down from high altitudes

us denied first then soviets put pilot on tv...

The US extensively used the
U-2 spy plane for aerial reconnaissance over the Soviet Union during the Cold War. This allowed the US to gather crucial intelligence on Soviet military capabilities and dispel fears of a "bomber gap" or "missile gap" in favor of the Soviets.
However, the Soviets could detect these high-altitude flights on radar and began developing air defense missiles to counter the threat.
The U-2 incident of May 1, 1960, marked a significant turning point.
Francis Gary Powers, a CIA pilot, was shot down while flying a U-2 over Soviet airspace. The Soviets utilized their newly developed SA-2 surface-to-air missiles to bring down the plane near Sverdlovsk. While none of the missiles directly hit Powers' aircraft, the shockwave from one exploding nearby damaged the plane. In a dramatic twist, the Soviets also accidentally shot down one of their own fighter jets during the engagement.
Powers successfully ejected and was captured by the Soviets. The incident led to a public trial and his conviction for espionage. He was eventually exchanged in 1962 for a Soviet intelligence agent.
The incident had several significant consequences:

Cancellation of the Paris Summit: A crucial summit conference between the US, USSR, France, and the UK, aimed at easing Cold War tensions, collapsed due to the incident.
Increased mistrust between East and West: The U-2 incident exacerbated already existing tensions and mistrust between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Suspension of U-2 overflights of the USSR: The US suspended high-altitude U-2 reconnaissance missions over Soviet territory following the incident.
Shift in reconnaissance tactics: The US began developing new strategies and technologies for reconnaissance, including emphasizing high-speed, low-level flights and accelerating the development of the Corona spy satellite program and the Lockheed A-12 OXCART supersonic spy plane.

Although the U-2 incident was a major setback for the US and marked the end of overflights deep into Soviet airspace, the U-2 platform wasn't retired. It continues to be used for reconnaissance, science, and other missions by the USAF and NASA.