US Navy Pilots Survive Red Sea Ejection After Apparent Friendly Fire Incident
Breaking News: Two US Navy pilots were forced to eject over the Red Sea on Sunday in what the US military is describing as a potential “friendly fire” incident. This serious event marks a concerning development amidst ongoing tensions with Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Both pilots were successfully recovered alive, with one sustaining minor injuries. The incident highlights the increasingly volatile situation in the Red Sea, a critical shipping lane constantly threatened by attacks from Iranian-backed Houthi forces, despite the presence of US and European naval patrols.
At the time of the incident, the US military was conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets. While the mission of the downed pilots remains undisclosed by the US Central Command, it’s confirmed their F/A-18 fighter jet had just launched from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. The carrier’s presence in the region was acknowledged earlier in December.
The unsettling explanation provided by Central Command points to a case of mistaken identity. They stated that the USS Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser part of the Truman’s strike group, “mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18.” The downed aircraft belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron 11, the “Red Rippers,” based out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
Questions are being raised about how such an error could occur, given the advanced communication and radar systems linking ships within a battle group. However, the military notes that sailors have been operating under immense pressure, making split-second decisions in response to frequent Houthi drone and missile attacks. Prior to the friendly fire incident, multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship missile were reportedly intercepted.
The arrival of the USS Harry S. Truman has coincided with an increase in US airstrikes targeting Houthi missile sites. This heightened military presence mirrors a similar intense deployment earlier this year by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which the Navy described as its most significant combat since World War II.
Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree has made his typical unsubstantiated claims, alleging that they shot down the US fighter jet. This mirrors past instances where he falsely claimed to have struck the USS Eisenhower.
The Houthis have dramatically escalated attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, targeting around 100 vessels, sinking two, and causing the deaths of four sailors. They claim to be targeting ships linked to Israel, the US, or the UK in an effort to pressure an end to the Gaza conflict. However, many attacked ships have no connection to the conflict, and their aggression has extended to launching drones and missiles towards Israel, prompting retaliatory Israeli strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a “forceful” response against the Houthis, suggesting a collaborative effort with international partners.