A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet was accidentally shot down over the Red Sea by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, resulting in minor injuries to one crew member.
In a statement, US Central Command confirmed the incident as a case of “friendly fire,” noting that both crew members safely ejected from the jet. “The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” the statement read. One of the crew members sustained minor injuries during the ejection.
The incident occurred following US airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. The strikes were part of an effort to disrupt Houthi operations threatening international shipping in the Red Sea and nearby regions.
It remains unclear whether the downed jet was involved in the Yemen operation at the time of the incident. The aircraft had been launched from an aircraft carrier prior to the mishap.
