Two US Navy pilots shot down in 'friendly fire' over Red Sea
Photo: Both pilots were found alive (Getty Images)
On Sunday, two US Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea. The incident occurred due to "friendly fire," reports Associated Press.
Both pilots were found alive after ejecting from the downed aircraft. One of the pilots sustained minor injuries.
However, the incident highlights the increasing dangers of the Red Sea corridor due to ongoing attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This happened despite patrols in the area by American and European military coalitions.
The report notes that, at the time of the incident, US military forces were conducting airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. However, the US Central Command did not specify the exact nature of its mission.
AP also reports that the command acknowledged the arrival of the aircraft carrier Truman to the Middle East, from which planes began taking off on December 15. However, it did not specify that the vessel and its battle group were in the Red Sea. Regarding the downed aircraft, it was stated:
“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,” Central Command said in a statement.
According to the military, the downed plane was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter assigned to the "Red Tails" of the 11th Strike Fighter Squadron at the Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
Media reports say it was initially unclear how the Gettysburg could have mistaken the F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, especially considering the close radar and communication links between the ships in the battle group. However, US Central Command stated that the military ships and aircraft had previously downed several Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile fired by the rebels. Earlier, Houthi fire had given sailors only a few seconds to make decisions.
AP added that since the Truman aircraft carrier’s arrival, the US has intensified its airstrikes on the Houthis, as well as missile strikes on the Red Sea and surrounding areas. However, the presence of the American battle group could provoke a renewal of attacks by the rebels, as happened with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower last year. This deployment marked what the Navy described as the most intense combat since World War II.
Notably, explosions were heard in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, last evening. The attack occurred several hours after the Houthis struck Tel Aviv, Israel.
However, later, the US Central Command confirmed that the explosions in Yemen were their doing.
