US Navy Cruiser Accidentally Shoots Down F/A-18 Fighter Jet Over Red Sea
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet was accidentally shot down by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg early Sunday morning over the Red Sea.
The jet, assigned to the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, was struck in what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed as a friendly fire incident. Both pilots safely ejected from the aircraft and were recovered, though one sustained minor injuries.
The USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on the Super Hornet during operations in a high-alert period. This occurred as U.S. and British forces conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including a missile storage site and a command facility.
The cruiser, tasked with protecting the carrier and its escorts from missile and drone threats, fired on the aircraft shortly after it launched. The specific weapon used in the incident has not been disclosed.
A full investigation is being conducted to determine how the accident occurred. This is the first time a crewed U.S. aircraft has been lost to friendly fire in operations against the Houthis, though unmanned drones have been shot down in the past.
