The U.S. Navy warship accidentally shot down its own fighter jet
The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser, USS Gettysburg, accidentally shot down an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet belonging to the U.S. on December 22nd, early in the morning, in the Red Sea. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), both pilots aboard the aircraft survived. Only one is sustaining with minor injuries.
It remains unclear to U.S. Central Command how the Gettysburg mistook the fighter jet for an enemy target. Typically, ships in a carrier strike group are equipped with radar and radio communication to prevent such incidents, as reported by the Associated Press.
At the time of the incident, U.S. forces were carrying out airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen. The U.S. has been conducting operations against the Houthis since the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group arrived in the region. The Houthis, who are aligned with Palestinians, have targeted nearly 100 commercial ships in the Red Sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October.