All US Air Force aircrew are trained to “survive, evade, resist and escape”, according to Marina Miron, a postdoctoral researcher in the Defence Studies Department at King’s College London.

Speaking to Al Jazeera by videolink from Munich, Miron says the downed pilot is likely to try to blend into the landscape and stay alive until a rescue team reaches him.

She says that presents an obvious problem for any recovery operation. The better he hides, Miron says, the harder it may be for rescuers to locate him.

Miron also points to Iran’s announcement of a reward for civilians who find the pilot.

She says the pilot’s situation will also depend on what supplies he has and whether he has been injured. Miron says it is not known whether he can walk, what condition he is in, or whether he has enough food to cope with difficult terrain.