U.S. Fighter Jet Downed in “Friendly Fire” Incident Over the Red Sea

A U.S. Navy fighter jet was accidentally shot down by one of its own ships over the Red Sea on Sunday in a “friendly fire” incident. The F/A-18 Hornet had just taken off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman when it was struck by a missile from the Gettysburg, an escort ship.

Both pilots ejected safely, with one suffering only minor injuries. The U.S. military confirmed that the incident was not caused by hostile fire, and an investigation is underway.

The Red Sea has become a hotspot of military activity, largely due to tensions with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have been attacking shipping in the region.

As the investigation into the “friendly fire” continues, the focus remains on preventing such errors in the future, while tensions in the region continue to rise.