The US 'mistakenly' shot down two of its own pilots over the Red Sea.

(CLO) Two U.S. Navy pilots survived after their fighter jet was shot down by U.S. forces over the Red Sea on Sunday.

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the F/A-18 Super Hornet, a two-seat fighter jet of the U.S. Navy, was shot down by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (part of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group) while flying over the Red Sea.

The plane had just taken off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Both pilots ejected and were rescued; one sustained minor injuries.

This incident has been confirmed as a result of mistaken fire, not hostile action. The incident occurred amidst ongoing airstrikes by US ships and aircraft targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg. Photo: BAE Systems

Immediately after the incident, CENTCOM conducted a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause and implement corrective measures. However, the Command did not provide further details about the technical factors that may have led to this confusion.

U.S. military officials said the incident may have been related to target identification in complex battlefield conditions. The USS Gettysburg and other ships in the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group were operating in the Red Sea, an area with a significant presence of other ships and aircraft.

Although U.S. warships have radar and radio communication systems to ensure coordination within the group, confusion can still occur due to tense situations and varying numbers of targets.

Some military experts suggest that when warships face hostile fire from the Houthi side, target identification can become difficult, leading to confusion between their own aircraft and enemy targets.

Previously, the USS Gettysburg and other ships in the strike group had participated in operations to intercept missiles and drones from Houthi forces, which further increased tensions and the possibility of misidentification.

The friendly fire incident occurred concurrently with other U.S. military operations in the region, including airstrikes targeting Houthi forces.

The escalating tensions in the Red Sea region, particularly as Houthi forces target Western vessels, have forced U.S. military forces to operate on high alert.

Hoai Phuong (according to NPR, CNN, ABC News)

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