An Iranian television channel has announced a bounty for civilians to help locate a missing crew member from the US warplane shot down in Iran on Friday.
In a televised broadcast, a news anchor stated, "The military has launched an operation to find the missing US crew. Citizens of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, if you capture the enemy pilot or crew alive and hand them over to the police or the army, you will receive a valuable reward."
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad is a remote, mountainous province covering approximately 15,500 square kilometers. Iranian authorities have also urged residents in the neighboring Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari Province to join the search. Additionally, a scroll on the television screen called on citizens to "shoot on sight" if they encountered anyone suspicious.
Following the announcement, many local residents reportedly headed toward the crash site in private vehicles. However, the Iranian Armed Forces cautioned the public against mistreating the pilot. State broadcaster IRIB reported that while many in southwest Iran are searching for the pilot, they must ensure he is not assaulted or harassed.
International media outlets report that the Governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad has officially pledged a reward of 10 billion tomans—approximately £50,000 ($66,100 or 8.1 million BDT)—for the capture of the "criminal US pilot."
This incident occurs as ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States remain deadlocked. Despite stern warnings from US President Donald Trump, Iran continues to refuse to return to the bargaining table.
The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal identified the downed aircraft as an F-15E Strike Eagle, which typically carries a pilot and a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO). According to Axios and CBS News, one of the two crew members has already been rescued by US Special Forces, while the search for the second remains ongoing.
Videos circulating on social media show US helicopters and aircraft circling at high altitudes over the Iranian mountainous region in search of the missing service member.
Source: The Independent and NDTV
