2 Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: Military

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: ABC News

2 Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: Military
The military said a full investigation is underway.

By Nathan Luna andJack Moore
December 21, 2024, 10:25 PM ET

Two U.S. Navy pilots ejected safely over the Red Sea after their F/A-18 fighter aircraft was mistakenly shot down early Sunday in what military officials are calling "an apparent case of friendly fire."

One of the pilots has minor injuries, according to a news release from U.S. Central Command.

The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the aircraft, that was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman, according to the news release. … The military said a full investigation is underway.

The U.S. Navy has been patrolling the region for over a year to combat ongoing attacks on commercial ships from the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

{snip}

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/2-navy-pilots-shot-red-sea-friendly-fire/story?id=117025025

[stopdiggin]

1. it was the drones of course ...

[taxi]

2. There's going to be a few nasty Fitreps written aboard their mother ship.

Either that or will the Bull Lt now be called Bullseye Lt?

[angrychair]

3. Someone is in trouble

Boat commander's career is over. Bunch of others. That is a very expensive mistake.

[C0RI0LANUS]

4. Glad the pilots are OK. The PJs may have been busy out there.

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet cost: Up to $66.9 million. (Photo: Jordan Tan / Shutterstock)

[Angrybob2001]

7. PJ are air force

Most likely would have been SAR launched from the carrier. Not trying to be pedantic just defending my service.

[C0RI0LANUS]

9. Hi Angrybob2001. I'm an Army guy-- anybody saving a pilot for me is a PJ. Thanks for clarifying.

[multigraincracker]

5. Dad fought in the Battle of the Bulge

I asked if they ever took friendly fire. He said they did and I asked what did you do? He said we fired back.

[Angrybob2001]

6. this is speculating

I was a fire controlman in the 90's so this speculation is based on weapon systems from that era. I'd take a wild un supported guess that the weapon system used was the modern equivalent of the close in weapon system (CIWS) I'm guessing the point defense systems were armed and in an automatic fire mode and the targets met criteria for firing.

It could also be a colossal screw up. Back in 1992 we (the us Navy not me) shot missiles into a turkish destroyer and killed several sailors. I also recall an incident in the 90s when a plane was towing a target dummy and the weapon system engaged the target and then started walking fire up the tow chain towards the plane. In another incident, I don't remember the details, but a frigate shot a round through the smoke stack into its own helicopter on accident.

Accidents happen all the time. There are safety procedures for every evolution in the military and most of the procedures come from killing/wounding or damaging people and equipment. Put soldiers and sailors in an environment where safety measures are relaxed for operational reasons and bad things will happen unfortunately.

[C0RI0LANUS]

8. Friend-or-Foe-Identifier (FFI) beacons should have prevented this disaster.

Friend-or-Foe-Identifier (FFI) beacons are supposed to be SOP. I remember this particular air fratricide incident years ago. US "fast movers" knocked down two friendly "slow movers" over the skies of northern Iraq in 1994.

"Two USAF F-15C aircraft shot down the two U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters assigned to Operation Provide Comfort after mistaking them for Iraqi Hind helicopters. 26 American and foreign personnel killed."

Link:

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/04/14/Two-US-helicopters-downed-over-Iraq/3465766296000/

[malthaussen]

10. That'll teach 'em to pay their poker debts. n/t