Iranian state media is calling on civilians to help find and capture American pilots after Tehran claims it has shot down a US warplane.

Mehr News, which is state-run, broadcasts footage on Friday showing a female presenter appealing for public assistance in locating the crew of what Iran says is a US F-15E Strike Eagle brought down over southern Iran.

Axios reports that Iran has shot down the aircraft, citing Iranian media and a source familiar with the incident. The outlet also says a search-and-rescue operation is under way to find the jet’s two crew members.

Separately, Iran’s Tasnim news agency says one of the pilots ejected and landed in central Iran on Friday morning. Tasnim reports that the US military tried to extract the pilot before he was “likely captured” by Iranian forces.

There is no immediate comment from the US military on the latest Iranian claims.

Iranian media also says Tehran has brought down a second F-35 after previously claiming it forced another to make an emergency landing in the region on 19 March.

Washington has previously rejected similar Iranian assertions, including earlier claims that a US warplane was shot down over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.