DUBAI — Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea on Sunday in what the military described as a “friendly fire” incident, marking one of the most serious threats to U.S. forces in over a year of operations against Yemen’s Houthis.
Both pilots ejected from their F/A-18 Super Hornet and were recovered alive, with one sustaining minor injuries.
The incident highlights escalating risks in the Red Sea corridor, a region plagued by Houthi attacks on shipping, despite the presence of U.S. and European military patrols.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired on the aircraft, which had just launched from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier.
The Truman’s carrier strike group, which recently entered the region, has been conducting operations in response to Houthi missile and drone strikes targeting Red Sea shipping lanes.
CENTCOM acknowledged the incident, stating, “The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18.”
The Super Hornet belonged to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11, based out of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, including how the Gettysburg could misidentify the aircraft as hostile.
The Red Sea has become a high-stakes theater of operations, with U.S. warships and aircraft frequently intercepting Houthi-launched drones and missiles.
Over the weekend, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes targeting Houthi missile storage and command facilities in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the port city of Hodeida. Houthi-controlled media reported multiple strikes but did not provide casualty figures.
The Houthis, who have been waging attacks on maritime traffic since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft. The Iranian-backed group has targeted nearly 100 merchant vessels with drones and missiles, often citing alleged links to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. — Agencies
