Is it a case of hostile fire or friendly fire? US ship shoots down its own F-18 Super Hornet fighter jet over Red Sea

In a shocking incident of friendly fire, a U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser, the USS Gettysburg, mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet over the Red Sea early Sunday morning. The aircraft had just taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier as part of ongoing military operations against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This incident underscores the dangers present in the Red Sea corridor, which has become increasingly perilous due to ongoing conflicts and military operations against Houthi forces.

Initial reports indicate that the incident may have been a tragic case of friendly fire, which refers to situations where military forces accidentally harm their own troops or equipment. The F/A-18 Super Hornet shot down was a two-seat fighter jet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The cost of new Super Hornets has been rising rapidly, with Boeing selling the last set of 20 jets for $55.7 million per aircraft.

Details of the Incident

Pilot Ejections: Fortunately, both pilots onboard the F/A-18 were able to eject safely before the aircraft was struck. One of the pilots sustained minor injuries but was successfully rescued shortly after the incident. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that this event was not due to hostile fire, but rather a tragic mistake during operations in a high-stakes environment.


Operational Context: At the time of the incident, U.S. forces were actively conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, which included missile storage facilities and command-and-control sites. The heightened military activity in the region has been a response to increasing threats from Houthi forces, who have been known to target shipping lanes and military assets.

Investigation Underway

CENTCOM has announced that a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the friendly fire incident is currently underway. There are concerns regarding how the USS Gettysburg could misidentify an F/A-18 as an enemy aircraft, especially considering that naval vessels in a battle group typically maintain robust radar and communication links to prevent such occurrences.

Friendly fire incidents are not uncommon in military operations, particularly in high-pressure environments where split-second decisions can have dire consequences.