Two US Navy Pilots Safe After Friendly Fire Incident Over Red Sea
The U.S. military confirmed that it mistakenly shot down one of its own fighter jets over the Red Sea early Sunday, forcing both pilots to eject. The aircraft, an F/A-18 Hornet operating from the USS Harry S. Truman, was hit by a missile fired from its escort ship, the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, in what the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described as an “apparent case of friendly fire.”
Both pilots were rescued, with one sustaining minor injuries. CENTCOM announced a full investigation into the incident, which occurred amid heightened military activity in the region. The command emphasized that the friendly fire was not the result of hostile actions.
The USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group had entered Middle Eastern waters just a week prior, part of ongoing U.S. naval operations to secure one of the world’s busiest waterways.
This incident coincided with U.S. airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebel targets in Yemen. The strikes targeted missile storage facilities and command-and-control sites near Sana’a in response to Houthi attacks on U.S. and allied forces.
The Houthis, who have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, claimed responsibility for shooting down the F/A-18 Hornet and targeting the USS Harry S. Truman. These claims were dismissed by CENTCOM as baseless.
The Red Sea operation also came amid other regional tensions. The Houthis launched a hypersonic missile at an Israeli military target in Tel Aviv’s Jaffa area the same day, causing minor injuries but no fatalities after Israeli defense systems partially intercepted the strike.
The U.S. continues to maintain a strong naval presence in the region, ensuring the safety of international shipping lanes amidst escalating threats. This friendly fire incident highlights the operational complexities and risks faced by military forces in volatile conflict zones.
