Two US Navy pilots were shot down on Sunday over the Red Sea in a case of “friendly fire”, according to the US military. The incident occurred when a guided missile cruiser, USS Gettysburg, mistakenly fired at and hit an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet. One pilot suffered minor injuries while both pilots were rescued alive after ejecting from their aircraft.
The Red Sea corridor has seen increased dangers due to ongoing attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis on shipping. US and European military coalitions patrol the area, but the Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October last year.
US Central Command did not elaborate on a recent airstrike mission against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, targeting a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility”. The incident highlights concerns about the risks faced by US military personnel and ships operating in the region.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/two-us-navy-pilots-shot-down-over-red-sea-apparent-friendly-fire-incident-us-military