Father of Jordanian pilot captured in Syria pleads with ISIS to show mercy and release his son.

The father of a Jordanian pilot captured by Isis has issued a heartfelt plea to the militants to release him, as concerned relatives gathered in front of his family home.

Jihadists captured First Lieutenant Mu'ath Safi Yousef al-Kaseasbeh after his warplane came down while conducting airstrikes over Syria, the Jordanian military said.

Jordanian Information Minister Mohammad Momani told The Associated Press that the plane was shot down by 'ground fire' but did not elaborate. 

But tonight, the US dismissed claims Isis were responsible for bringing the aircraft down.

It was the first instance of a foreign soldier falling into the group's hands since the U.S.-led coalition began its air campaign against the extremists.