A US Navy warship, the USS Gettysburg, accidentally shot down a US F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet over the Red Sea in an incident classified as "friendly fire." Both pilots survived, with one experiencing minor injuries. The incident occurred shortly after the fighter jet took off from the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, which is part of the Truman Carrier Strike Group.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the Gettysburg mistakenly fired on the F/A-18, and an investigation is underway to determine how the cruiser could misidentify the fighter jet. At the time, US forces were engaged in airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, responding to escalating tensions and missile attacks linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Red Sea has become increasingly perilous due to Houthi attacks on shipping, which they claim target vessels associated with Israel, the US, or the UK, though many targeted ships do not seem connected to the conflict. The situation has raised concerns about maritime safety amid heightened military activity in the region.
