What caused the Navy warship to fire on US fighter jets?
The warship mistook the fighter jets for Houthi cruise missiles due to faulty combat systems, lack of training, and low situational awareness.
Military / Navy Incidents
In a shocking incident, a US Navy warship mistakenly engaged American F/A-18 fighter jets over the Red Sea, resulting in one aircraft being shot down and another narrowly avoiding disaster. The incident highlights critical failures in comba...
The friendly fire incident occurred on December 22, shortly after the USS Gettysburg and the USS Harry S. Truman strike group entered the Red Sea to combat Houthi rebels. The investigation pointed to a series of failures, including shortcomings in planning, deficiencies in combat systems, and potential crew fatigue. The Gettysburg had experienced "significant degradation" in its core interoperability system, affecting network management, surveillance, and weapons coordination. The captain’s low situational awareness and the combat information center team’s inability to regain it were also cited as contributing factors. This incident was not the only mishap; a German warship also accidentally targeted a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in February 2024. The Truman strike group experienced further incidents, including a collision with a cargo vessel in February 2025 and the loss of two more F/A-18s in April and May 2025.
The warship mistook the fighter jets for Houthi cruise missiles due to faulty combat systems, lack of training, and low situational awareness.
One F/A-18 was shot down, and another narrowly avoided being hit. There were no personnel casualties or major injuries.
The strike group experienced a collision with a cargo vessel and the loss of two additional F/A-18s due to separate accidents.
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