Official U.S. Department of Defense announcements or credible news reports

U.S. Navy F/A-18F Shot Down by USS Gettysburg Near Yemen; Both Pilots Safe

Dec 22, 2024, 06:48 AM

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman was accidentally shot down over the Red Sea near Yemen early Sunday at approximately 3 a.m. local time in an apparent friendly fire incident, the U.S. military said. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired on and hit the jet, which was conducting operations targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels. Both pilots ejected safely and were recovered, with one suffering minor injuries. U.S. Central Command has launched an investigation into the incident, marking the most serious mishap involving U.S. forces in the region in over a year.