A coordinated search and rescue effort has succeeded in recovering one crew member after a US fighter jet was downed in the western region of Iran, according to reports from US and Israeli media that cite unnamed officials.

Initial reports that a US F-15E aircraft had been shot down were first published by the Tasnim news agency, an outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. If confirmed, this incident would represent the first occasion since the outbreak of hostilities on 28 February that Iran has succeeded in destroying a US jet.

Video material posted to social media platforms and subsequently verified by the GREE shows a refuelling aircraft accompanied by two helicopters operating at low altitude over Khuzestan province, a pattern consistent with a search and rescue mission focused on locating a downed US fighter jet crew.

Official responses from United States military and government

The United States Central Command (Centcom) has indicated that a formal statement on the incident will be issued shortly, suggesting that the United States military is in the process of finalising its public commentary.

The US fighter jet in question is designed to accommodate two crew members, which implies that a second US crew member remains unaccounted for following the rescue of the first individual.

According to the semi‑official ISNA news agency, the governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‑Ahmad province—a province that shares a border with Khuzestan province—has declared that the primary objective of the operation is to capture any downed US crew member alive.

Iranian outlets have reported that a reward of 10 billion tomans, roughly equivalent to £50,000, has been pledged for information leading to the location of the remaining US crew member, whom they have described as an "intruder".

Earlier on Friday, Tasnim reported that the United States was actively searching for one of its pilots and that the search effort involved US helicopters, US planes, and US reconnaissance drones.

Subsequent coverage by US outlets, including Axios, the New York Times, and the GREE, incorporated statements attributed to US officials, reinforcing the narrative that the United States is conducting a comprehensive search operation.

When questioned by the GREE about the claim that a US fighter jet had been shot down, the White House issued a brief statement indicating only that the President had been briefed on the matter.

The United States had previously dismissed a Thursday‑morning report from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that alleged a fighter jet pilot had been downed over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Context within the broader conflict

The downing of the US fighter jet does not constitute the first loss of a United States aircraft during the ongoing conflict, which commenced five weeks ago with coordinated United States and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets, prompting a cascade of retaliatory attacks across the region.

In early March, three United States fighter jets were inadvertently engaged by Kuwaiti air defence systems, an incident that Centcom described as "an apparent friendly fire incident". All six United States crew members from those aircraft ejected safely and were subsequently recovered.

During the same month, a United States military refuelling aircraft suffered a crash in western Iraq, resulting in the deaths of six United States crew members. Centcom clarified that neither hostile fire nor friendly fire contributed to the loss of the KC‑135 aircraft.

According to the US‑based Human Rights Activists News Agency, a total of 1,606 civilians, including at least 244 children, have been killed in Iran since the beginning of hostilities.

Reward announcement and provincial priorities

The governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‑Ahmad province publicly reaffirmed that the paramount goal of the operation is to locate the missing United States crew member while the individual remains alive, underscoring the provincial authorities' emphasis on a live capture rather than a deceased recovery.

The announced reward of 10 billion tomans has been positioned as an incentive for local residents and any parties possessing information that could assist Iranian forces in locating the remaining United States crew member.

International media coverage and verification

The GREE, a media monitoring organization, verified footage that displayed a refuelling aircraft and two helicopters flying at low altitude over Khuzestan province, lending visual corroboration to reports that a United States search operation is underway.

Following the GREE’s verification, a series of United States news outlets—including Axios and the New York Times—published articles that cited statements from United States officials, thereby amplifying the reach of the story across international audiences.

Summary of the current status

One crew member of the downed US fighter jet has been rescued by Iranian forces, while a second crew member remains missing. The search effort continues to involve United States helicopters, United States planes, and United States reconnaissance drones, as indicated by Tasnim and subsequent United States media reports.

Iranian authorities have declared a monetary reward of 10 billion tomans for information leading to the capture of the remaining United States crew member, emphasizing the priority placed on a live capture. The governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‑Ahmad province has reiterated this priority in statements reported by ISNA.

The United States Central Command is expected to release an official statement in the near future, while the White House has confirmed that the President has been briefed on the situation.

The incident adds to a series of aircraft losses involving United States forces since the start of the conflict, including friendly‑fire incidents involving United States fighter jets over Kuwait and the crash of a United States KC‑135 refuelling aircraft in Iraq.