US Confirms Fighter Jet Downed Over Iran, Tehran Announces Reward For Those Who Find Crew

A US fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, with American officials confirming that rescue operations are underway for the missing crew, according to Reuters. The development marks a major escalation in the ongoing conflict, after Iranian state-linked media claimed earlier that Tehran had downed two American warplanes over its territory.

US Confirms Aircraft Loss, Crew Search Underway

A United States official told Reuters news agency that an American fighter jet had been brought down over Iran. The official said search efforts for the crew were in progress, but did not confirm the exact aircraft model involved.

While Iran has claimed that it shot down both an F-35 and an F-15E, the US official did not verify whether the aircraft lost was either of those jets.

The confirmation from Washington came after growing reports from both Iranian and international media that a US warplane had crashed inside Iranian territory. Several major American media outlets also reported on Friday that US forces were attempting to locate and recover the crew.

Iranian Media Broadcast Wreckage, Officials Claim Two Jets Downed

Iranian media aired what it said was footage of aircraft wreckage, following claims by Tehran-linked broadcasters that two US fighter jets had been downed over Iran.

The reports gained further traction after The New York Times cited US and Israeli officials as confirming Iranian claims that a fighter jet had been shot down. However, there has been no official American confirmation of a second aircraft being lost.

The incident has quickly become one of the most serious military flashpoints in the widening US-Iran confrontation, with both sides yet to provide a full account of what happened in Iranian airspace.

Reward Announced For Capturing Missing Crew

In a highly provocative move, the Governor of Iran's southwestern province announced a reward for anyone who captures the crew of the downed American jet.

According to Reuters, citing Iran's ISNA news agency, the Governor said that whoever captures or kills the crew will be "specially commended by the Governorate," raising concerns over the safety of the missing personnel.

The statement has added to fears that the search-and-rescue operation is unfolding under extreme risk, with Iranian authorities and local networks potentially mobilised to intercept the aircrew before US forces can reach them.

Iranian Outlets Claim US Helicopters Came Under Fire

Iranian media on Friday reported that American helicopters and aircraft were actively searching over Iran for the missing pilots.

Two outlets affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards said helicopters were involved in the mission, citing unnamed sources. Tasnim news agency reported that an American Hercules C-130 aircraft was also taking part in the operation.

Iranian reports further claimed that US aircraft were flying over Iranian territory in an attempt to locate the crew of the downed jet. One of the outlets, Fars news agency, said it remained unclear who the helicopters belonged to. However, Tasnim asserted they were American and claimed that one helicopter had to pull back after coming under fire.

Those claims have not been independently verified, but they underline the dangerous conditions surrounding the ongoing rescue mission.