ISIS Demands Jordan Leave Coalition Fight And Release Prisoners In Exchange For Captured Pilot

The Islamic State group listed several demands it wants Jordan to meet in exchange for the release of the pilot captured when his plane crashed near the Syrian city of Raqqa. The Sunni militant group has demanded Jordan stop fighting with the U.S.-led coalition and release several prisoners in exchange for the pilot, regional media reported Sunday.

Reports surfaced Thursday ISIS shot down a Jordanian plane and captured its pilot. Regional news outlets later said Muath al-Kassasbeh, 26, a first lieutenant in Jordan’s air force, was captured by the Islamic State group Wednesday near the Syrian city of Raqqa. Kassasbeh was identified as the pilot of an F-16 jet.

This is the first time ISIS has demanded a member of the U.S.-led coalition drop out of the fight. Reports on Twitter Sunday said ISIS was set to release a video to announce its demands formally.

American and Jordanian officials have said ISIS did not shoot down the aircraft, that the plane crashed because of a technical problem. The U.S. Central Command, or Centcom, said in a statement, “Evidence clearly indicates that [ISIS] did not down the aircraft.”

Jordan warned ISIS not to hurt the pilot. The Jordanian parliament said there would be “grave consequences" if the pilot is harmed.