Iran offers reward for capture of US pilot whose jet was shot down in Iranian territory

Iranian authorities have urged residents in the country’s south-west to help search for the crew of a downed US fighter jet, even offering a reward for anyone who captures the pilot alive.

Images aired on state television showed what was described as the wreckage of the aircraft, twisted metal fragments loaded onto a truck—following reports of fresh strikes across Israel, Iran, and parts of the Gulf.

Officials in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province called on local communities, including nomadic groups and villagers, to assist in locating the pilot. A broadcast message promised a “valuable reward and bonus” for anyone who hands over the pilot to authorities.

Iran’s Fars news agency said military forces had already launched a search operation to find the American pilot who was reportedly shot down earlier in the day.

The United States Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the region, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident. If confirmed, this would mark the first known loss of a US fighter jet inside Iran since Donald Trump ordered military action against the country.

Reports suggest uncertainty about the type of aircraft involved, with some sources referencing either an F-35 or an F-15E fighter jet. Major American outlets, citing US and Israeli officials, indicated that a rescue operation may already be underway.

Military experts note that in such situations, downed pilots are trained to evade capture by hiding and using coded signals to communicate their location. Survival gear typically includes a radio beacon, basic medical supplies, food rations, and a sidearm, allowing pilots to survive in hostile environments while awaiting rescue.

The incident follows earlier claims by Iranian media of attempts to target US aircraft in the region, though previous footage showed jets escaping without visible damage.