DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two U.S. Navy pilots safely ejected after their F/A-18 fighter jet was mistakenly shot down by a U.S. warship over the Red Sea Sunday, military officials said. One pilot suffered minor injuries in the incident.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed that the USS Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser, accidentally fired on and destroyed the aircraft, which was operating from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Both vessels are part of the same carrier strike group.
“The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement. Military officials have not explained how the warship could have misidentified a U.S. aircraft, given the strike group’s integrated radar and communication systems.
The incident occurred as U.S. forces conducted operations against Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Earlier Saturday, CENTCOM reported precision strikes against Houthi missile storage and command-and-control facilities in Sana’a, Yemen, responding to ongoing attacks on shipping in the region.
During the operation, U.S. forces also intercepted several Houthi attack drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea. The Houthis later claimed responsibility for a rocket strike on Tel Aviv that injured 16 people.
The Houthis have targeted approximately 100 merchant vessels since October 2023, when they began attacks in solidarity with Hamas following the outbreak of war in Gaza. The campaign has resulted in four sailor deaths, one seized vessel, and two sunken ships.
While the rebels claim to target vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the United Kingdom, many attacked ships have had no connection to the conflict. The U.S. Navy’s presence in the region has intensified since the USS Truman’s arrival, leading to increased confrontations with Houthi forces.
Houthi-controlled media reported U.S. strikes in both Sana’a and around Hodeida on Saturday but provided no casualty information. The rebels did not acknowledge the aircraft downing incident.
The U.S. military is expected to investigate the friendly fire incident, which occurred during one of the most active periods of naval combat operations since World War II.