The United States military is in a race against time to save a fighter jet pilot whose aircraft was shot down as Iran is reportedly trying to get their hands on the soldier
American forces are scrambling to find a missing fighter jet pilot who has been shot down in Iran, as it emerged a sick bounty has been placed on his head. Elite rescue teams are doing all they can to locate the missing American crew member who will face a fearful fate if found by the wrong side.
Iran has places a £50,000 bounty on his head after shooting down the jet. Experts have warned the airman is at risk of becoming a propaganda trophy for the Iranian regime, mirroring the chilling ordeal of British pilots paraded on TV during the 1991 Gulf War.
Both US and Iranian forces are looking for the weapon systems officer, who has been missing since a F-15 jet on operations over southern Iran was shot out of the sky. Americans are hoping they can save him from the chilling fate awaiting if he is captured by Iran.
Rescue teams are scrambling in a “harrowing and dangerous” search mission for the second crew member, while Iranian state media broadcasts offers a “precious prize” for capturing the unidentified American.
The £75million F-15 fighter aircraft was shot down over the Iranian airspace yesterday, and two crew members ejected near to the Iraqi border.
The first man, a pilot, was rescued within hours in a daring Special Forces mission involving low-flying US helicopter gunships.
But the second man is still missing with fears growing for his safety.
Iranian state media broadcasts offers a “precious prize” for capturing the unidentified American.
State TV channels have urged residents to search the area, alongside the offer of a £50,000 bounty – which is significantly higher than the country’s monthly salary of £150, saying: “If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize.”
Meanwhile the US Central Command has launched a frantic search effort, while images of debris from the downed jet have been released by Iranian state media.
Former diplomat Matthew Gould, who was deputy and acting ambassador to Iran between 2003 and 2005, has now warned of a “fearful fate” for the individual if captured by the Iranian regime as the country has a long history of using Western captives as “propaganda trophies.”
If captured, they would be subject to intense psychological and physical interrogation to extract forced confessions for state television.
Early reports indicate the jet was intercepted by Iran, which has led to combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions. CSAR are considered the most complex time-sensitive operations that forces prepare for and in the US. Elite units of the air force are specially trained for these types of missions if they were to happen.
The fearful fate mentioned by Gould in the Mail parallels a similar incident that happened to British military in the 1991 Gulf War, which could now be same as what could happen to this missing US crew member.
RAF Pilot John Peters and navigator John Nichol were paraded in front of cameras by their Iraqi captors after their Tornado was shot down, and held captive for 47 days.
By staronline@reachplc.com (Sian Hewitt)
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