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The developments come after Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed that a US pilot could be in the custody of the IRGC after ejecting from an F-35 fighter jet.
The developments come after Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed that a US pilot could be in the custody of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Anyone who captures the US pilot alive will receive a “valuable reward,” reported a local Iranian media outlet after a fighter jet allegedly crashed over western Iran.
A local Iranian television was quoted as saying, “Anyone who captures the US pilot alive will receive a valuable reward.”
According to Iran’s state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), large numbers of people gathered near the reported crash site in southwestern Iran, with some attempting to reach the area. The broadcaster said, “Many people in southwestern Iran have gone to the area around the crash site of the American fighter jet in private cars to #capture the American pilot.” News18 could not independently verify the authenticity of the claim.
🚨Many people in southwestern Iran have gone to the area around the crash site of the American fighter jet in private cars to #capture the American pilot.The Iranian armed forces have called on the people NOT TO LET anyone mistreat the pilot.
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) April 3, 2026
At the same time, Iranian armed forces issued a warning to civilians, urging restraint. “The Iranian armed forces have called on the people NOT TO LET anyone mistreat the pilot,” IRIB added.
The developments come after Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed that a US pilot could be in the custody of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after ejecting from an F-35 fighter jet reportedly hit by the IRGC Aerospace Force.
Iranian state media outlet Press TV, citing a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, further reported that a second US F-35 fighter jet was struck down and downed over central Iran by a newly deployed air defence system.
The spokesperson said, “A second US fifth-generation F-35 was struck and downed over central Iran by a new IRGC Aerospace Force air-defence system. Given the massive explosion on impact and during the crash, the pilot is unlikely to have ejected.”
However, there is no official confirmation from US authorities on these claims.
April 03, 2026, 6:42 PM IST
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