In a dramatic series of events over the Red Sea, a U.S. Navy fighter jet was shot down by friendly fire, and moments later, a second jet narrowly avoided the same fate.
The second incident involved an F/A-18 Super Hornet, which was flying just a few miles behind the first jet when it came under threat.
The near miss occurred after a surface-to-air missile, fired from the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, was launched while the Super Hornet was preparing to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The missile narrowly missed the jet by just 100 feet, forcing the pilot to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid disaster.
Sources familiar with the incident revealed that the missile was fired at the second Super Hornet after the initial jet had already been shot down.
The Navy has since confirmed that a second SM-2 missile was fired from USS Gettysburg, but it is unclear whether the missile was targeting the second jet.
The Navy is currently investigating whether the ship had inadvertently disabled the guidance system on the missile, which could have led to the near shoot-down.
The first jet, also an F/A-18 Super Hornet, had been returning to the USS Truman after conducting a midair refueling mission in support of airstrikes over Yemen.
As the aircraft approached the carrier, the missile fired from USS Gettysburg struck it in midair. Fortunately, the pilot and weapons systems officer managed to eject moments before impact, suffering only minor injuries and were rescued by a helicopter.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the friendly fire incident, noting that USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired on the first jet. However, the near shoot-down of the second jet, which was not previously reported, has raised significant concerns within the Navy. A source close to the matter expressed frustration, questioning the training aboard the USS Gettysburg, which they described as “insufficient.”
The incident occurred on December 21, 2024, while the USS Truman strike group was conducting airstrikes against missile storage facilities and command-and-control centers operated by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The attack on the USS Gettysburg, which may have contributed to the confusion, followed a series of hostile actions in the region.
Following the friendly fire incident, there have been no additional strikes against the Houthis from the USS Truman. Tensions remain high in the region, and the Navy continues to investigate the cause of the missile targeting error.
Meanwhile, Navy pilots are growing increasingly concerned about the potential risks posed by inadequate training and communication during such high-stakes operations.
As the Navy works to determine what went wrong, the nearly disastrous chain of events serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by friendly fire in complex, high-pressure combat situations.
