One crew member from a US fighter jet shot down in Iran has been rescued, according to reports. The search is under way for a downed US F-15 fighter jet, which crashed in southern Iran, two sources told CBS News. They added that a crew member from the downed fighter jet has been rescued by US forces.

Images verified by the outlet show a refuelling plane and two helicopters flying over Khuzestan Province – believed to be the rescue mission. It’s not known how many crew members were on board. Iran has claimed to have shot down an F-35 fighter jet, as unverified pictures allegedly showing the wreckage of a US warplane have emerged.

The Iranian military claimed on Good Friday to have downed a Strike Eagle over central Iran.

The Iranian Mehr news agency has also circulated an alleged appeal from local police urging locals to hunt down any downed pilots.

And the anchor on a local channel in Iran’s Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province read the following announcement: “If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize.”

The same channel initially urged its viewers to “shoot them as soon as you see them”.

The governor of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said the priority is “capturing” any downed US crew “alive”.

He said: “Those who succeed in capturing or killing hostile enemy forces will be specially commended by the Governor’s office.”