US Military Accidentally Downs One of Its Own Fighter Jets | US News
An American fighter jet has been downed after being accidentally struck by a missile fired from an American cruiser over the Red Sea.
Both pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft and were rescued, with one sustaining minor injuries.
An investigation is currently underway following what the US military has labeled an “obvious case of friendly fire.”
This incident is believed to be the most serious threat to US troops in over a year amidst targeted actions by the US against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
According to US Central Command, the F/A-18 Hornet was shot down shortly after taking off from the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier.
The two-seat jet was subsequently struck by the USS Gettysburg, one of the carrier’s escort ships.
It remains unclear how the Gettysburg could have confused an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, especially given that ships within a battle group share both radar and radio communications.
However, Central Command noted that warships and aircraft had previously downed multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels.
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Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted around 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones in support of Gaza.
The incident involving the Hornet highlights the escalating dangers faced in the Red Sea corridor due to ongoing Houthi attacks on shipping, despite patrols by the US and European allies.
Yemeni soldiers guard Mohammad Ali al Houthi, the head of the Supreme Political Houthi Council, in Sanaa. File pic: AP
This past weekend, US warplanes executed airstrikes that reverberated through the capital Sanaa, held by the Houthis since 2014.
Central Command indicated that these strikes were aimed at a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility,” although they did not provide further details.
The downed jet was believed to be a F/A-18 Super Hornet from the Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Squadron 11, stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.
