“Friendly Fire” Claims Navy Jet
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says
By JON GAMBRELL
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. But the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become over the ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite U.S. and European military coalitions patrolling the area.
The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said.
Thankfully both were swiftly rescued, one received minor injuries. The investigation will likely bear out this is the result of an event chain of cascading failures. The question will be how deep will it go? We have procedures and standards written in blood to prevent such incidents. In today’s Navy both are uncertain. Maintenance and training have suffered greatly on the alter of unending operations, at-sea billets go unmanned and DEI has destroyed confidence in leadership. It was just a matter of time for an incident like this to occur. Except it wasn’t the Houthis who brought down our bird.
Category: Big Navy, Middle East
Fear not! All flag officers will be protected from any consequences.
Some 2nd Class/E-5 and WEPS/O-2will have the hammer fall on them, but not a flag officer…no way.
Something else on the to-do list to MAGA is hold the flags to the same standards as the swabbies.
If not to higher standards.
In the world I’ve lived in, the higher up the chain you are, the more responsibility you bear when things go south.
IFF not working or not applicable?
IF Funtional
IFF does not work when the switch is in OFF position.
Even if the IFF was non- functional for whatever reason, shouldn’t the offending sailor(s) who pulled the trigger have received training to distinguish friendly silhouettes of aircraft from hostile ones? The only reasons I have for the guy(s) shooting down a friendly aircraft are sheer incompetence or intentional bullshit.
Never underestimate the power of “Uh oh….”
IFF not functioning in OFF position.
Taking out your own multi million $ aircraft is a pretty big “oops!”. There went a whole bunch of “attaboys” right into the drink.
Missile Launch Ossifer on Gettysburg…”Musta been pilot error, no IFF detected.” Air Boss on Carl…”Damn Trigger Happy missileers on Gettysburg screwed up!” Big Navy…”It’s the “Fog of War”…nothing to see here. All parties involved will undergo additional training.”
“… will undergo additional DEI training.”
FIFY
Regarding the pilots, isn’t there a rule that you’re only allowed three ejections per career per pilot—then you’re medically grounded?
I’ve never heard of such, but maybe take the hint and find a new line of work after two?
There was no limit on the number of times I could jump out and meet my new best friend.
That shit IS NOT going to look good on someone’s resume’!
Someone(s) are about to have an unhappy Christmas and New Year. I’m very glad both crew were recovered in decent shape.
I confess I haven’t been following the conflict in the Red Sea as much as I should.
What is there to stop the US Navy for completely obliterating the Houthis out of existence? Why the restricted rules of engagement? Can we release the dogs on the Houthis?
Biden and Austin, primarily.
The rumor that AW1Ed pushed the big red button on what he thought was Tom Cruise in the danger zone has been put on ice, man.
Shots fired!
I really wanna see as on many platforms habitual line crosser’s take on this and/or angry cop.
Both of those should be very entertaining