Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’: US military
Two US Navy pilots were shot down on Sunday over the Red Sea in what appeared to be “friendly fire”, the US military said.
The pilots were found alive after ejecting from their plane, one was injured.
The incident shows the danger that prevails in the Red Sea corridor amid shipping attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis, as American and European forces patrol the area.
The US military had attacked Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time, but the US military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what its purpose was.
A fighter jet moves off the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea, June 11, 2024. (AP)
The military said the shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
An F/A-18 fighter jet had just taken off from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, according to Central Command. On December 15, Central Command said the Truman had entered the Mideast, but did not specify whether the carrier and its battle group were in the Red Sea.
“The missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, accidentally fired at an F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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