US aircraft-including Black Hawk helicopters, a C-130 Hercules transport plane, and reconnaissance drones-have been deployed in an effort to locate the missing pilot.
US pilot reportedly downed in Iran
New Delhi: A US fighter pilot may have been captured by Iranian forces after an aircraft was shot down over central Iran on Friday, according to reports from Iranian media and statements attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to the local news agency the pilot ejected from the aircraft before it was destroyed and landed Iranian territory. Initial reports suggest that US forces launched search-and-rescue efforts shortly afterward, though some sources claim the pilot may have been apprehended by Iranian military personnel.
US aircraft-including Black Hawk helicopters, a C-130 Hercules transport plane, and reconnaissance drones-have been deployed in an effort to locate the missing pilot. The scale of the operation has led to speculation that US forces may not have precise coordinates, despite pilots typically carrying GPS-linked emergency transmitters designed to broadcast their location after ejection.
Iranian state television has reported that authorities are offering a reward for information leading to the capture of the pilot. Local police in Kohgiluyeh have also reportedly called on residents to assist in locating and detaining the individual.
In a separate statement, the IRGC claimed it had shot down a second U.S. stealth fighter-identified as an F-35-using what it described as a newly developed air defense system. The group said the aircraft was struck over central Iran and destroyed upon impact.
The IRGC further claimed the jet was affiliated with a U.S. squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, adding that the force of the explosion likely prevented the pilot from surviving.
However, other unverified local reports suggest the pilot may have ejected before the crash, leaving the situation unclear.
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The US Department of Defense has not confirmed either incident. Independent analysts have also cautioned that available images and debris have not been conclusively identified as belonging to US aircraft.
Given the lack of official confirmation and reliance on local and state-linked sources, key details-including the number of aircraft involved and the status of any pilots-remain unverified.
