Two U.S. Navy pilots safely ejected after their F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was mistakenly shot down by a U.S. warship over the Red Sea on Sunday, according to U.S. Central Command.
The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, accidentally fired upon and struck the F/A-18 shortly after it had taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. Both pilots were rescued, with one sustaining minor injuries during ejection.
The incident occurred during ongoing U.S. military operations targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels in the region. Earlier that day, U.S. forces had conducted airstrikes against Houthi missile storage and command facilities, while also intercepting multiple drone attacks and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels.
The F/A-18 was assigned to the "Red Rippers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Questions remain about how the Gettysburg could have misidentified a U.S. fighter jet, given that ships within a carrier group maintain constant radar and radio communication.
The U.S. military has launched an investigation into the incident, which highlights the increasingly complex and dangerous operating environment in the Red Sea. Over the past year, Houthi rebels have targeted approximately 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, prompting increased U.S. and European military presence in the area.
The USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group entered the region on December 15 as part of ongoing efforts to protect shipping lanes and respond to Houthi attacks. The strike group includes multiple destroyers and nine aviation squadrons.
This incident marks one of the most serious threats to U.S. forces since military operations against the Houthi rebels began following their increased attacks on commercial shipping in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.