In a stunning turn of events, the US Navy mistakenly shot down one of its own F/A-18 fighter jets over the Red Sea on Sunday in what officials are calling an “apparent case of friendly fire.” The shocking incident occurred amidst ongoing tensions and conflicts in the region.
Both Pilots Rescued After Ejecting
According to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the two pilots aboard the stricken aircraft were able to eject before the jet was hit. They were subsequently rescued, with one pilot suffering minor injuries in the process.
The downed F/A-18 had just taken off from the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier when it was mistakenly fired upon by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the carrier strike group. The exact circumstances that led to the friendly fire are still under investigation.
Ongoing Conflict in the Red Sea
The incident underscores the dangerous and complex nature of the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea region. The US has been conducting airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have launched attacks on shipping in the area despite the presence of American and European military coalitions.
Warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Incoming hostile fire from the Houthis has given sailors just seconds to make decisions in the past.
– US Central Command statement
Stepped Up US Airstrikes
The arrival of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier group has coincided with an increase in US airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, including what CENTCOM described as a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility” in the capital of Sana’a on Saturday night and early Sunday.
However, the presence of American warships may also invite renewed attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as occurred earlier this year during the deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which the US Navy said saw its most intense combat since World War II.
Houthi Attacks on Shipping
The Houthis have targeted around 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023. The rebels claim they are attacking ships linked to Israel, the US, or the UK in order to pressure an end to the Israeli campaign in Gaza.
- 1 vessel seized by Houthi rebels
- 2 vessels sunk in Houthi attacks
- 4 sailors killed in Houthi strikes
Many of the targeted ships have had little or no connection to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Houthis have also increasingly launched drones and missiles at Israel itself, drawing retaliatory Israeli airstrikes.
Incident Raises Serious Questions
While both pilots in Sunday’s friendly fire incident were fortunately rescued, the downing of a US fighter jet by an American warship raises troubling questions about communication and coordination between naval and air assets in an already chaotic conflict zone.
Military experts noted that it should be exceedingly difficult for a warship to misidentify an F/A-18 as a hostile aircraft or missile, given the extensive radar and radio communication links between ships in a carrier battle group. A thorough investigation will need to determine how this near-tragic mishap could have occurred.
As the US continues its military operations in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf region, it will need to urgently review its procedures to ensure that Sunday’s friendly fire incident remains an isolated one. The alternative is too devastating to contemplate.
