U.S. shoots down own jet while bombing Yemen | 22 Dec 2024 | The U.S. Navy inadvertently shot down its own F/A-18 fighter jet in a friendly fire incident over the Red Sea, the Pentagon announced shortly after issuing a press release about another successful bombing raid against alleged Houthi targets in Yemen. The F/A-18 was shot down by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg after taking off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed early Sunday morning. The two Navy pilots were able to eject from the fighter jet and were recovered safely, though one sustained minor injuries. The U.S. military admitted that the USS Gettysburg "mistakenly fired on" the F/A-18 but did not specify which weapon was used to shoot down the jet.