Iranian authorities have announced a reward of £50,000 for any citizen who captures the pilot of the downed US fighter jet alive. Following the shooting down of an F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet by the Iranian military, a search operation is ongoing as one crew member has been rescued by American forces while another remains missing. Tehran has also reported the crash of an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft. A reward of 10 billion Iranian tomans (equivalent to £50,000) has been set by officials in the Khuzestan province for capturing the American pilot, drawing attention from bounty hunters in the region.
The high reward surpasses the average monthly salary in Iran and has already attracted individuals in the south of the country to pursue the capture. A video circulating online shows armed men in the Khuzestan province expressing determination to find the pilot. The governor of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province emphasized the importance of capturing any downed US crew alive and assured commendation for those who succeed in this mission.
The recent incident marks the first downing of a US aircraft since the conflict began on February 28. President Trump had previously claimed victory over Iran just days before the incident. The White House confirmed the president was briefed on the situation without providing further details. Trump, in a later interview, stated that the incident would not impact ceasefire negotiations with Tehran.
Concerns arise over the safety of the missing airman if captured by Iranian forces, with Trump expressing hope for the airman’s well-being. Meanwhile, talks between Iran and the US regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have stalled, with Tehran refusing to attend scheduled discussions in Pakistan, citing the White House’s demands as unacceptable.
