The U.S. military accidentally shot down one of its own fighter aircraft over the Red Sea, resulting in both pilots ejecting from the plane. The incident, described as an “apparent case of friendly fire,” is currently under investigation. The fighter aircraft, an F/A-18 Hornet, was flying off the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman when it was mistakenly fired upon by the missile cruiser Gettysburg, an escort ship for the carrier. Both pilots were rescued, with one sustaining minor injuries. The Red Sea has been a location of intense military activity, with U.S. forces engaging in battles against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia. Recent operations over the Red Sea involved firing on Houthi drones and missiles, as well as striking command-and-control and missile storage sites in Sanaa. The incident involving the downing of the fighter aircraft highlights the complexities and dangers of military operations in the region.
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American fighter jet downed in ‘alleged incident of friendly fire’ above Red Sea
