US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet downed by ‘friendly fire’ incident over Red Sea

Two U.S. Navy pilots ejected safely after their F/A-18 fighter jet was downed in a suspected “friendly fire” incident above the Red Sea, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Sunday.

Both pilots were successfully recovered, with one sustaining minor injuries.

The F/A-18 had been operating from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman when it was mistakenly hit by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, a part of the Truman Carrier Strike Group.

Details of the incident

• The F/A-18 fighter jet was on an “operational mission” above the Red Sea.
• USS Gettysburg reportedly fired on the aircraft in an incident classified as “friendly fire.”
• The pilots managed to eject safely and were rescued shortly after the incident.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation by CENTCOM, which has emphasized that such incidents are rare, especially considering these assets are communicating with each other and are fitted with Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems.

Escalating regional tensions in the Red Sea

The incident comes against a backdrop of rising tensions in the Red Sea, with frequent confrontations involving Yemen‘s Houthi rebels.

• Recent US airstrikes: CENTCOM recently carried out precision airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, targeting missile storage facilities and command-and-control centers.
• Intercepted attacks: US forces intercepted multiple Houthi attack drones and an anti-ship cruise missile in the same area.
• Houthis: The Houthis continue targeting commercial vessels and naval assets in the Southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Strategic importance of the Red Sea

The Red Sea serves as a critical maritime route for global trade, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. Disruptions in this corridor have far-reaching economic and geopolitical consequences.