Two US Navy Pilots Survive ‘Friendly Fire’ Incident Over Red Sea Amid Rising Tensions
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — In a dramatic incident highlighting escalating tensions in the Red Sea region, two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down on Sunday in what the U.S. military described as a “friendly fire” incident. The pilots, who ejected safely from their aircraft, mark the latest chapter in the ongoing conflict against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Both pilots were recovered alive, with one sustaining minor injuries. The incident, which occurred during U.S. airstrikes targeting the Iranian-backed Houthis, underscores the increasing dangers in the Red Sea corridor, a key waterway strained by attacks on shipping despite continuous patrols by U.S. and European forces.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet, a two-seat fighter jet from the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11, had just launched from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier when it was mistakenly struck by a missile fired from the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the Truman’s strike group. The Truman had entered the Middle East in mid-December but its precise deployment in the Red Sea had not been publicly disclosed.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged the mishap, revealing that heightened alertness had already seen warships and aircraft intercept multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship missile earlier. The rapid decision-making required to counter incoming threats may have contributed to the tragic error, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
The shootdown coincided with intensified U.S. airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen, including a missile storage facility and command center in Sanaa, the rebel-held capital. Strikes were also reported near Hodeida, a critical port city, as the U.S. escalates efforts to curb Houthi missile fire into the region.
Houthi-controlled media confirmed the strikes in Yemen but offered no details on casualties. Meanwhile, the Houthis acknowledged the downing of the U.S. jet in the Red Sea, a sign of the group’s growing defiance.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have ramped up attacks in the Red Sea, targeting merchant vessels and Western military ships. Over 100 merchant vessels have been attacked, leading to seizures, sinkings, and loss of lives. While the Houthis claim their attacks aim to pressure Israel over its Gaza offensive, many of their targets have been neutral ships, including vessels bound for Iran.
As the U.S. bolsters its presence in the region, the Truman Carrier Strike Group’s deployment could provoke further attacks, akin to the intense combat faced by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower earlier this year.
The volatile situation in the Red Sea remains a stark reminder of the region’s fragility, where even the most advanced military operations are not immune to devastating errors amidst the chaos of conflict.
