Iran Offers Reward of £50,000 for Missing U.S. Pilot After Fighter Jet Shootdown

Officials in Iran are reportedly offering a reward to anyone who captures a missing U.S. pilot following claims that an American aircraft was shot down.

According to reports, the incident involved an F-15E Strike Eagle, which Iranian authorities say was brought down by their military. It was also reported that one crew member has been rescued by U.S. forces, while another remains missing.

Iranian authorities have since launched an intensive search for the missing pilot. In Khuzestan Province, officials announced a reward of 10 billion Iranian tomans—approximately £50,000—for anyone who captures the alleged “intruder.”

State media reports included a voice message saying: “God willing, we will find him.”

Meanwhile, the governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province stated that the priority is to capture any downed U.S. crew alive.

He added:

“Those who succeed in capturing or killing hostile enemy forces will be specially commended by the Governor’s office.”

Tehran has also claimed that an A-10 Warthog was hit and crashed, though these claims have not been independently verified.

The reported downing of the U.S. aircraft would mark the first such incident since the conflict began on February 28. The last known case of a U.S. fighter jet being shot down in combat was during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Reacting to the development, Donald Trump had earlier stated that American forces had “beaten and completely decimated Iran.”

Meanwhile, Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the president had been briefed on the situation but did not provide further details.

In a later interview, Trump declined to comment on the search-and-rescue operation but maintained that the incident would not affect ongoing ceasefire discussions with Tehran, saying:

“No, it’s war. We’re in war.”

A video currently circulating online, reportedly from Khuzestan Province, shows a group of armed men moving across a rocky mountainous area.

In the footage, the men can be seen carrying firearms while walking together and displaying a pro-regime flag.