The United States military confirmed an accidental “friendly fire” incident over the Red Sea early Sunday, resulting in the downing of one of its own fighter jets. The F/A-18 Hornet, operating from the aircraft carrier Harry S Truman, was mistakenly targeted by the missile cruiser Gettysburg, one of the carrier’s escort vessels.
Both pilots ejected from the aircraft and were safely rescued, with one sustaining minor injuries. The US Central Command acknowledged the mishap in a statement, describing it as an “apparent case of friendly fire” currently under investigation.
The Red Sea region has witnessed heightened military activity over the past year due to ongoing tensions between US forces and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi fighters. The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on commercial shipping and military targets in the area.
On Saturday, US forces had intercepted Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea and conducted retaliatory strikes on command-and-control facilities and missile storage sites in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
The Red Sea serves as a critical waterway for global trade, and the presence of US naval forces underscores the region’s strategic importance. This incident highlights the challenges of operating in an environment fraught with overlapping threats and high-stakes military engagements.
The Harry S Truman is one of several Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers deployed by the United States, while the F/A-18 Hornet is a multi-role fighter widely used by the Navy. The mishap involving the Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, raises questions about operational procedures and protocols during high-alert missions.
US Central Command emphasized its commitment to reviewing the incident thoroughly to ensure such errors are avoided in the future, reiterating the importance of safeguarding personnel and maintaining operational readiness in the volatile Red Sea region.
