US shoots down two of its own navy pilots over Red Sea in 'apparent friendly fire' incident

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian/AP

Sun 22 Dec 2024 02.17 EST
Last modified on Sun 22 Dec 2024 02.38 EST


Two US navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea on Sunday in an “apparent case of friendly fire”, the US military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in more than a year of the country targeting Yemen’s Houthis.

Both pilots were rescued alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. But the incident underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become amid the ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite US and European military coalitions patrolling the area.

The US military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi at the time, though the military’s Central Command (Centcom) did not elaborate on what their mission was.

The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, Centcom said. On 15 December Centcom acknowledged the Truman had entered the Middle East, but hadn’t specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea. “The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Centcom said in a statement. The incident was being investigated.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/22/us-shoots-down-two-of-its-own-navy-pilots-over-red-sea-in-apparent-friendly-fire-incident

[Walleye]

1. Well, I'm really glad the pilots were rescued and in good shape

[Irish_Dem]

2. Any plane crash you walk away from is a good crash.

MY USAF Dad used to say this.

[Walleye]

4. Yep, I'm glad our military puts emphasis and technology on protecting the pilots

[Irish_Dem]

6. Yes it is terrible when military families learn a plane went down.

Everyone waits anxiously to hear if the crew is OK.
Usually it is not good news, but sometimes miracles do happen.

[Oneear]

3. We need to increase in the order of F-18 Planes

I do believe we will be having some Retraining and Navy divers to recover some Planes in the Red Sea

[wolfie001]

5. So, this model was a 2-seater

Some F-18s are single seat. Only one plane was shot down. When first reading the title, I got the impression that 2 planes were shot down. Glad both pilots are safe.

[Billy Ruffian]

21. F-18 types

IIRC, the B, D, and F models are two seaters, A, C, E are single seat. I don't think they reset the letter designations when they changed from the Hornet to the Super Hornet (the Hornets may have all been retired, now)

[wolfie001]

22. Yes, when you read the title, it implies multiple planes

Would have been more concise to state, "Navy plane shot down, both pilots rescued". I guess that would have been a bit boring for those "more eyeballs" lazy editors.

[3Hotdogs]

7. So who do you guess was the jerk-off responsible?

[BoRaGard]

8. We know for sure it was not a Trump (R)

Since not one of them has ever served America.

Hope that narrows it down some.

[Crowman2009]

11. Most likely the Cruiser's Captain or weapons officer.

[3Hotdogs]

14. I guess that officer will be pealing potatoes until his enlistment is up.

[Crowman2009]

19. Yep, permanent shore duty for the rest of their career.

[EX500rider]

18. "So who do you guess was the jerk-off responsible?"

Most likely whoever was in charge of the CIC at the time (combat information center)
or if the plane got too close and the Phalanx CIWS was set to auto due to all the incoming threats, I wonder if the planes Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder was acting up?

[sinkingfeeling]

9. And how much money does a F/A 18 cost?

[Crowman2009]

10. Looks like the USS Gettysburg Captain might be relieved of command.

As one would assume in this situation, or there will be a big brawl the next time that Cruiser is in the same port as the Truman.

[moniss]

12. The decision to fire

is not just made by one lower ranked seaman. Somebody spotted the plane, reported it and someone in the command chain gave an order.

[tinymontgomery]

13. Going to be a whole lot of openings

Going to be a whole lot of openings on that ship. Good chances the CO, possibly XO, Ops boss, and probably a few CIC watch officers.
What happened to their IFF?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. At least we know they are alert.

Gotta crack a few eggs to make an omelette.

[republianmushroom]

16. guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg a little trigger happy.

Seems some demotions are in order.

[Sneederbunk]

17. There is a Wile E. Coyote Award for someone.

[HereForTheParty]

20. Shooting down our own damn planes "underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become"