In brief
A U.S. Navy fighter jet was shot down in the Red Sea due to friendly fire from a Navy ship, prompting an immediate investigation.
In a serious incident deemed an apparent case of friendly fire, a U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 fighter jet operating in the Red Sea early Sunday morning, according to the U.S. military’s Central Command. Thankfully, the two pilots aboard the aircraft were able to eject and were safely recovered, with one sustaining only minor injuries.The fighter jet had taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which is part of a larger carrier strike group that has been deployed in the area since December 15. Details on the strike group's precise location were not disclosed, but they operate within a region that includes Yemen and surrounding waters.This mishap comes against the backdrop of a broader military engagement with the Iranian-backed Houthi militia, which has been targeting ships in the Red Sea as part of their solidarity campaign with Palestinians in Gaza. Just a day before the incident, Central Command also reported launching airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, targeting missile storage and command facilities, while successfully intercepting a number of Houthi drones and missiles.Central Command stated that an investigation has been launched following the jet’s downing to determine the precise circumstances that led to the tragic friendly fire incident. The USS Gettysburg and the aircraft are both part of ongoing military operations to secure vital international waterways impacted by Houthi aggression.
