US Navy warship accidentally shoots down fighter jet; both pilots safe

Washington: A US Navy warship, the USS Gettysburg, accidentally shot down an F/A-18 fighter jet during operations in the Red Sea, the U.S. military announced today. Both pilots aboard the aircraft survived, with one sustaining minor injuries.

The incident highlights escalating tensions in the Red Sea corridor, where ongoing Houthi rebel attacks on vessels persist despite U.S. and European military patrols.

The downing occurred after U.S. forces launched airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, although the U.S. Central Command has not disclosed the specific mission during which the mishap took place.

In a statement, the U.S. Central Command questioned how the USS Gettysburg mistook the fighter jet for an enemy aircraft or missile, given its advanced radar and radio communication systems.

The Navy has confirmed that the warship, along with other military assets, had previously intercepted multiple Houthi-launched drones and an anti-ship cruise missile in the region.