The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense said that several US fighter jets crashed in the country as fighting between the US and Iran entered its 3rd day. The statement affirmed that all crew members survived and the cause of the incident is being investigated.
Iranian state television said a US F-15 fighter jet in Kuwait was shot down by Iranian air defense fire. Meanwhile, videos circulating on social networks show a plane believed to be a F-15 crashing down, along with images of the pilot parachuting and being taken away by civilian vehicles.
According to initial information, the US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crashed while performing a combat mission. Both the pilot and the weapons officer escaped safely after throwing their escape seats. Local people found these two soldiers, provided initial support and then informed officials.
Kuwaiti security forces then received the pilots and arms control officers, transferring them to the official facility for safety checks and medical assessments. The handover took place smoothly, the condition of the two soldiers was stable and there were no reports of serious injuries.
A spokesman for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense confirmed that search and rescue teams had quickly deployed and taken the crew to the hospital for examination and treatment. He added that their health was stable.
Initial assessment suggests that there is a possibility of a misfire incident related to the Patriot missile system deployed in the area. There has been no official confirmation, but early reports indicate that the plane may have been misidentified as a hostile target under high alert conditions.
The plane crash occurred when Washington confirmed the first casualties in the operation. 3 US military personnel were killed at a base in Kuwait, marking a significant escalation.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have targeted military bases and oil tankers across the Gulf, raising security alerts and disrupting transportation near the Strait of Hormuz.
The escalating conflict also caused many major Middle Eastern airports to temporarily suspend operations, airlines to change directions or cancel flights, while oil prices rose sharply due to concerns about prolonged instability.
