Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent «friendly fire» incident

The Associated Press (AP) is a news organization that provides information to various media outlets, including NPR (National Public Radio).

December 22, 2024, at 4:50 PM.

On June 11, 2024, a military aircraft deftly navigates the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea.

On Sunday, two U.S. Navy pilots were downed over the Red Sea in what appears to be a case of “friendly fire,” according to the U.S. military. This incident is the most significant danger faced by troops in more than a year while conducting operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Both pilots managed to eject safely from their damaged plane and were rescued, although one sustained minor injuries. This incident highlights the increasing dangers of the Red Sea corridor due to ongoing assaults on shipping by the Iranian-aligned Houthis, even with U.S. and European military forces monitoring the region.

At that time, the U.S. military launched airstrikes aimed at the Houthi rebels in Yemen. However, the Central Command of the U.S. military did not provide any details about the purpose of these operations and did not quickly answer inquiries from The Associated Press.

According to Central Command, the F/A-18 that was downed had just taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. On December 15, Central Command confirmed that the Truman had arrived in the Middle East, but did not clarify that the carrier and its accompanying battle group were located in the Red Sea.

Central Command announced that the USS Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser belonging to the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, accidentally launched fire and struck the F/A-18.

According to the military's account, the downed aircraft was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet belonging to the "Red Rippers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 11, based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.

It wasn't obvious at first how the Gettysburg could confuse an F/A-18 with an enemy aircraft or missile, especially since ships in a task force are connected through both radar and radio communications.

Central Command reported that warships and planes recently intercepted and destroyed several drones and an anti-ship cruise missile fired by the Houthi rebels. In the past, the rapid incoming fire from the Houthis has forced sailors to make quick decisions within moments.

Since the arrival of the Truman, the U.S. has increased its airstrikes aimed at the Houthis and their missile launches in the Red Sea and nearby regions. However, the presence of an American naval group could provoke fresh assaults from the rebels, similar to the attacks faced by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower earlier this year. This deployment was characterized by the Navy as the most intense combat engagement they had experienced since World War II.

On Saturday night and into early Sunday, American military aircraft carried out airstrikes that reverberated throughout Sanaa, Yemen's capital, which has been controlled by the Houthis since 2014. Central Command stated that the strikes were aimed at a “missile storage site” and a “command-and-control center,” but did not provide further details.

Media outlets controlled by the Houthis have reported bombings in Sanaa and near the port city of Hodeida, but have not provided any details about casualties or destruction. In Sanaa, the attacks seemed to focus on a mountainside that is known to house military facilities. The Houthis did not confirm any aircraft being downed over the Red Sea.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, triggered by Hamas' unexpected assault on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 250 people, the Houthis have aimed at nearly 100 commercial ships using missiles and drones.

According to local health officials, Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians. This figure does not differentiate between fighters and non-combatants.

The Houthis have captured one ship and sunk two others during their ongoing campaign, which has resulted in the deaths of four sailors. Meanwhile, various missiles and drones have either been shot down by U.S. and European coalition forces in the Red Sea or have missed their intended targets, which have also included Western military ships.

The insurgents claim that they focus on vessels associated with Israel, the U.S., or the UK in an effort to halt Israel's operations against Hamas in Gaza. However, numerous ships that have been attacked have minimal or no ties to the conflict at all, including some that are headed to Iran.

The Houthis have been launching more attacks on Israel using drones and missiles, which has led to Israeli airstrikes in response.