Polymarket, a prediction market that lets users wager on a variety of real-life happenings, has come under fire for allowing people to place bets on the fate of an American F-15 fighter pilot who went MIA during the Iran war. The pilot, who has since been rescued, was shot down over Iran on Good Friday (Apr 3). The wager was eventually removed after a Massachusetts congressman called it out publicly for insensitivity.<h2>What was the wager?</h2>The wager was on whether the downed American pilot would be found alive and, if so, when. Polymarket, one of the more prominent prediction market sites, briefly hosted a market asking users to bet on what date the US would confirm the missing F-15 pilot had been located. The airman had been shot down over Iran during an active search and rescue operation. At the time the market was live, 63 per cent of bettors were wagering the pilot wouldn't be found until Saturday.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/god-supports-iran-war-trump-touts-peacemaker-status-once-again-claims-to-have-ended-india-pakistan-conflict-1775528549304">God supports Iran war? Trump once again claims to have ended India-Pak conflict</a>It was removed on Friday after Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and combat veteran, called it out publicly. However, the fact that it went up in the first place says something about where the lines are — or aren't — on these platforms right now.The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet with two pilots aboard was shot down over southern Iran, the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces soon after, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Reports suggested that the second crew member from the downed F-15E has now been recovered after a "heavy firefight".<h2>This is DISGUSTING</h2>Moulton, a combat veteran, posted a screenshot on X with a short caption: "This is DISGUSTING." He pointed out that the page had gone up while the search was still ongoing, and the pilot's status was entirely unknown. "They could be your neighbour, a friend, a family member," he wrote. "And people are betting on whether or not they'll be saved."He also pointed out that President Donald Trump is an investor in the "dystopian death market."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There is an ongoing search and rescue operation for a missing American service member whose plane was shot down over Iran. Their safety is unknown. They could be your neighbor, a friend, a family member. And people are betting on whether or not they&#39;ll be saved. This is… <a href="https://t.co/sMuS1x6YbL">pic.twitter.com/sMuS1x6YbL</a>&mdash; Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) <a href="https://twitter.com/sethmoulton/status/2040134223869206968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Polymarket pulled the wager and acknowledged it shouldn't have gone live. "It should not have been posted, and we are investigating how this slipped through our internal safeguards," the company said. It did not offer much beyond that.Moulton wasn't satisfied. "Taking down this particular bet after I called it out can only be the first step," he said, noting that 219 other war-related betting markets remained active on the platform. He called for all of them to be removed.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-for-a-bright-future-iran-asks-youth-to-form-human-chains-around-power-plants-as-trump-threatens-destruction-in-four-hours-alireza-rahimi-1775524366456">Iran asks youth to form 'human chains' around power plants amid Trump threat</a><h2>A twisted bet</h2>Polymarket claims it doesn't profit from geopolitical markets, though that framing has done little to quiet the criticism. The episode is part of a larger, uglier story unfolding around prediction markets and the Iran war. Earlier this month, six suspected insiders were found to have made roughly $1.2 million on contracts tied to strikes on Iran — including an alleged $550,000 payout connected to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Should people be allowed to bet on a missing soldier’s fate? Polymarket faces backlash after users wagered on a downed US pilot’s rescue timeline, prompting outrage from Seth Moulton. Where do we draw the line?

Scroll down to read more.

Polymarket, a prediction market that lets users wager on a variety of real-life happenings, has come under fire for allowing people to place bets on the fate of an American F-15 fighter pilot who went MIA during the Iran war. The pilot, who has since been rescued, was shot down over Iran on Good Friday (Apr 3). The wager was eventually removed after a Massachusetts congressman called it out publicly for insensitivity. What was the wager? The wager was on whether the downed American pilot would be found alive and, if so, when. Polymarket, one of the more prominent prediction market sites, briefly hosted a market asking users to bet on what date the US would confirm the missing F-15 pilot had been located. The airman had been shot down over Iran during an active search and rescue operation. At the time the market was live, 63 per cent of bettors were wagering the pilot wouldn't be found until Saturday. Also read | God supports Iran war? Trump once again claims to have ended India-Pak conflict It was removed on Friday after Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and combat veteran, called it out publicly. However, the fact that it went up in the first place says something about where the lines are — or aren't — on these platforms right now. The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet with two pilots aboard was shot down over southern Iran, the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces soon after, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Reports suggested that the second crew member from the downed F-15E has now been recovered after a "heavy firefight". This is DISGUSTING Moulton, a combat veteran, posted a screenshot on X with a short caption: "This is DISGUSTING." He pointed out that the page had gone up while the search was still ongoing, and the pilot's status was entirely unknown. "They could be your neighbour, a friend, a family member," he wrote. "And people are betting on whether or not they'll be saved." He also pointed out that President Donald Trump is an investor in the "dystopian death market."

Should people be allowed to bet on a missing soldier’s fate? Polymarket faces backlash after users wagered on a downed US pilot’s rescue timeline, prompting outrage from Seth Moulton. Where do we draw the line?Scroll down to read more.

Betting on a missing US pilot? Polymarket apologises for ‘DISGUSTING’ wager amid Iran war

In a dramatic development in the ongoing US-Iran war, U.S. President Donald Trump praised American forces for carrying out what he called one of the “most daring” rescue operations in military history after the successful recovery of both crew members from a downed F-15E Strike Eagle inside Iran.


Trump: First in Military History Two US Pilots Have Been Rescued

US and Iranian forces are searching for a missing American crew member after a US warplane was shot down. It's not known what has happened to the missing crew member. A pilot who was also on board has been rescued. Iranian security forces have launched a combing operation in the region for the airman, bounty offered to find the pilot alive. Watch the report to know how US forces are operating behind enemy lines to save their soldier.


A-10 Warthog Crashed in Persian Gulf Region | Race Against Time To Find F-15E Crew

Tehran claimed to have shot down a US F-15E fighter jet on Friday, after which the Iranian media announced rewards for civilians who capture the pilot alive and hand them over to authorities. Iranian state-run media reported that officials are offering a reward of 10 billion toman (approximately $60,000 USD) to any citizen who locates the downed American pilots. State-affiliated Iranian channels have claimed that the US fighter pilot ejected from the aircraft over southwestern Iran after it was shot down, which is the first known loss of a jet inside Iran since the start of the war.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ship-carrying-iranian-crude-to-indian-port-in-gujarat-reroutes-to-china-1775226409514">Ship carrying Iranian crude to Indian port in Gujarat reroutes to China</a>&nbsp;The reward announcement comes as US officials, who believe the pilot may be alive, attempt to extract him from Iranian territory through an ongoing combat search and rescue operation. Iranian state media shared images online purportedly showing American aircraft, including helicopters, planes, and drones, flying over the area.&nbsp;“If a pilot or an enemy pilot is captured and handed over alive to the law enforcement or military forces, you will receive a significant reward and compensation. If you see an airplane or helicopter in the sky, make sure to target it,” the anchor of the channel in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province read out a message.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gulf-states-seek-unsc-mandate-for-force-to-protect-hormuz-china-france-russia-may-veto-move-1775160810714">Gulf states seek UNSC mandate for force to protect Hormuz; China, France, Russia may veto move</a>&nbsp;The governor of the south-western Iranian province announced that anyone who captures or kills the American pilot, who is reported to have ejected during the crash, would be commended by the authorities.&nbsp;State-affiliated Iranian channels have claimed that the US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran after it was shot down, which is the first known loss of a jet inside Iran since the start of the war.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fires-attorney-general-pam-bondi-after-criticism-over-epstein-files-releases-1775150955840">Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein files releases</a>&nbsp;The reward announcement comes as US officials, who believe the pilot may be alive, attempt to extract him from Iranian territory through an ongoing combat search and rescue operation. Iranian state media shared images online purportedly showing American aircraft, including helicopters, planes, and drones, flying over the area.Tehran-linked channels also aired visuals of metal debris loaded onto the back of a pickup truck, suggesting a possible crash site, which is a mountainous area located about 500 kilometres south-west of Tehran.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-world-on-edge-of-wider-war-people-are-already-struggling-says-un-chief-antonio-guterres-1775149940522">‘World on edge of wider war, people are already struggling,’ says UN chief Antonio Guterres</a>&nbsp;Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed a major military success, announcing on Friday that a second F-35 fighter jet had been shot down over central Iran by an advanced air defence system operated by its Aerospace Force. The IRGC alleged that the aircraft belonged to the US Air Force’s Lakenheath squadron.The IRGC further said the fighter jet was completely destroyed upon impact. The claim follows an earlier assertion by Iranian forces on March 19 that they had downed what they described as the first-ever F-35 in combat.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/malda-sir-judicial-officers-hostage-case-mastermind-moffakkerul-islam-arrested-nia-takes-over-probe-1775219518033">Malda SIR judicial officers hostage mastermind Moffakkerul Islam arrested; NIA takes over probe</a>&nbsp;Iran's state broadcaster, IRIB, also posted on X that crowds of civilians had driven out in private cars toward the crash site. “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,” it wrote.

State-affiliated Iranian channels have claimed that the US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran after it was shot down, which is the first known loss of a jet inside Iran since the start of the war.

Tehran claimed to have shot down a US F-15E fighter jet on Friday, after which the Iranian media announced rewards for civilians who capture the pilot alive and hand them over to authorities. Iranian state-run media reported that officials are offering a reward of 10 billion toman (approximately $60,000 USD) to any citizen who locates the downed American pilots. State-affiliated Iranian channels have claimed that the US fighter pilot ejected from the aircraft over southwestern Iran after it was shot down, which is the first known loss of a jet inside Iran since the start of the war. Also Read: Ship carrying Iranian crude to Indian port in Gujarat reroutes to China The reward announcement comes as US officials, who believe the pilot may be alive, attempt to extract him from Iranian territory through an ongoing combat search and rescue operation. Iranian state media shared images online purportedly showing American aircraft, including helicopters, planes, and drones, flying over the area. “If a pilot or an enemy pilot is captured and handed over alive to the law enforcement or military forces, you will receive a significant reward and compensation. If you see an airplane or helicopter in the sky, make sure to target it,” the anchor of the channel in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province read out a message. Also Read: Gulf states seek UNSC mandate for force to protect Hormuz; China, France, Russia may veto move The governor of the south-western Iranian province announced that anyone who captures or kills the American pilot, who is reported to have ejected during the crash, would be commended by the authorities. State-affiliated Iranian channels have claimed that the US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran after it was shot down, which is the first known loss of a jet inside Iran since the start of the war. Also Read: Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein files releases The reward announcement comes as US officials, who believe the pilot may be alive, attempt to extract him from Iranian territory through an ongoing combat search and rescue operation. Iranian state media shared images online purportedly showing American aircraft, including helicopters, planes, and drones, flying over the area. Tehran-linked channels also aired visuals of metal debris loaded onto the back of a pickup truck, suggesting a possible crash site, which is a mountainous area located about 500 kilometres south-west of Tehran. Also Read: ‘World on edge of wider war, people are already struggling,’ says UN chief Antonio Guterres Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed a major military success, announcing on Friday that a second F-35 fighter jet had been shot down over central Iran by an advanced air defence system operated by its Aerospace Force. The IRGC alleged that the aircraft belonged to the US Air Force’s Lakenheath squadron. The IRGC further said the fighter jet was completely destroyed upon impact. The claim follows an earlier assertion by Iranian forces on March 19 that they had downed what they described as the first-ever F-35 in combat. Also Read: Malda SIR judicial officers hostage mastermind Moffakkerul Islam arrested; NIA takes over probe Iran's state broadcaster, IRIB, also posted on X that crowds of civilians had driven out in private cars toward the crash site. “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,” it wrote.

State-affiliated Iranian channels have claimed that the US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran after it was shot down, which is the first known loss of a jet inside Iran since the start of the war.

‘Capture US pilot alive, get reward,’ says Iranian media after Tehran claims it downed F-15E

We examine the intricate technological vulnerabilities of the non-stealth F-15E Strike Eagle against Iran's heavily fortified, multi-layered air defense networks, including the formidable Russian S-300 and the highly lethal indigenous Bavar-373.

'Cat and Mouse': Why F-15E fighter jet remains vulnerable to Iranian air defenses

Ejecting from an F-15E takes just two seconds. Pilots face up to 20 Gs and severe windblast as the ACES II rocket seat blasts them clear. Automated parachutes, leg restraints, and GPS rescue beacons ensure they survive this violent escape.


What really happens when an F-15E pilot ejects mid-air

Following alarming reports of its destruction by Iranian forces, we break down the incredible capabilities of the F-15E Strike Eagle—the incredibly versatile, high-speed, and heavily armed backbone of America's deep strike military capabilities.

What is F-15E Strike Eagle? Understanding the powerful US fighter jet downed in Iran

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Betting on a missing US pilot? Polymarket apologises for ‘DISGUSTING’ wager amid Iran war

Trump: First in Military History Two US Pilots Have Been Rescued

A-10 Warthog Crashed in Persian Gulf Region | Race Against Time To Find F-15E Crew

Capture US pilot alive, get reward, says Iranian media after Tehran downs F-15E

Why the non-stealth F-15E is vulnerable in Iran

What really happens when an F-15E pilot ejects mid-air

What is F-15E Strike Eagle? The powerful US fighter jet downed in Iran