Two US Navy pilots ejected safely after their fighter jet was shot down over the Red Sea on Saturday in a friendly fire incident.
A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea by the USS Gettysburg, injuring one crew.
A statement from US Central Command described the incident as a “friendly fire,” saying the two crew members ejected safely, with one sustaining minor injuries.
“The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” the statement read, describing the incident as a “friendly fire” error.
The downing occurred after the United States conducted airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi militant targets in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed in a statement Sunday that they shot down an F/A-18 aircraft over the Red Sea and targeted the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier. The Houthis said their strikes were in response to American and British forces attacking their drones and missiles.
According to two US military officials, the downed fighter jet was not part of the strikes in Yemen.
