US warplane shot down in Red Sea 'friendly fire' incident

Sunday, December 22, 2024

An American fighter jet has been shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent "friendly fire" incident, the US military has said. Both crew from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet ejected safely, with one suffering minor injuries, according to Central Command. The incident came after the US carried out a series of air strikes against a missile storage site and command facilities in the Yemeni capital Sanaa operated by Iran-backed Houthi militants.

Posted by REDIAL at 12:51 AM | 3 COMMENTS | permalink

In a statement, US Central Command confirmed a "friendly fire" incident over the Red Sea. "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, which was flying off the USS Harry S Truman," the statement said.

Comments

Surprising.
I, naturally, figured it was our friends in Tel Aviv, again.

#1 | Posted by morris at 2024-12-22 11:33 AM

Houthis take credit for downing American plane after CENTCOM alleges friendly fire
www.upi.com

... Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, better known as the Houthis, has taken credit for downing an American military plane after the U.S. Central Command claimed it was shot in a friendly fire incident.

Two pilots with the U.S. Navy ejected from a fighter jet flying off from the USS Harry S. Truman over the Red Sea on Sunday when the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg "mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," NBC News reported citing a Central Command statement.

American officials reportedly said one of the pilots may have sustained minor injuries and that an investigation into the incident was underway.

The statement came after Central Command said it conducted "precision" airstrikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility operated by the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim armed movement and participant in Yemen's multi-faction civil war. ...