According to an announcement from the Pentagon, the US Navy has just recorded a rare incident when its F/A-18 fighter jet was shot down by the guided- missile cruiser USS Gettysburg in a " missfire" in the Red Sea.
The incident occurred at a time when the US and UK were conducting new airstrikes targeting locations believed to be missile storage and command facilities of the Houthi forces in Yemen. The F/A-18 departed from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and was mistakenly shot down by the guided- missile cruiser USS Gettysburg shortly after takeoff.
The two pilots on the fighter jet escaped in time and were rescued safely, however, one was slightly injured. The Pentagon confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway to determine the cause.
According to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), during the same campaign, US forces destroyed many Houthi attack UAVs and anti-ship cruise missiles in the Red Sea. However, this misfire has made the image of the commercial traffic protection campaign in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden - called Operation Prosperity Guardian - less smooth.
This is the first time an American piloted plane has been lost in this 14-month campaign, after a series of UAV destroyers and tense confrontations with the Houthis. This incident not only caused a stir in public opinion but also raised many questions about the ability to coordinate and identify targets in complex military missions.
