“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.
Just ask MG Garrison about Somalia.
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.
I wonder what the Blue on Blue incident rate was during WW2? Before IFF (other than invasion stripes) when enemy and friendly silhouettes were thoroughly studied and tested on?
This should not happen in 2024
Do we know that the ship had eyeballs on the aircraft?
No, but I am under the assumption that they did until I’m proven wrong.
Never underestimate the power of “Uh oh….”
Or…

F/A-18 amid aerial refueling while shafted by USS Gettysburg’s SAM. Visible, identified and non-evading– WTF, over?

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.
Pardons for all involved. Signed, Prez Sniffy.
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.
Lack of Moral Fortitude.
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
Attention, the Houthis have one (1) such aircraft and in barely functional shape it might be, so please apply common sense. (Not saying it was Navy duck-hunters– I don’t know for sure– but I suspect Maverick would’ve identified it as an F/A-18.)
Big Phalanx jumping the top gun?
If so, I’ll more adequately explain it by automated stupidity than attribute it to some Under Siege-type sh*t:
Diversity enrichment has consequences.
Well, those ejected Naval Aviators must be pissed.
What we need is another Admiral or two (with staffs, of course) to oversee whatever it is they were doing at the time.
Go Navy, Beat Navy!?
My IFF antennae are in the shop too, at least that’s what the hand receipt says. And that’s all I gots to say ’bout that, call my lawer.
In other ‘news’, misplaced Congresscritter found.
Maybe someone should check on Kay…
But,…
USS Gettysburg zapped it:
https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-fighter-jet-downing-another-red-sea-friendly-fire-incident-2024-12
Oh, hey, Gettysburg plugged the F/A-18 while in the middle of aerial refueling– real tough engagement there.
https://www.twz.com/sea/f-a-18f-shot-down-by-friendly-cruiser-was-in-the-middle-of-a-refueling-mission
It’s much easier to attack a gazelle when it’s at the watering hole.
Fucking lucky it didn’t take out the tanker.
True. I just wonder what their first clue was– it surely took ’em a while.
I am not military, so I am not qualified to comment.
TWZ had an article stating the Gettysburg had successfully repelled attacks by cruise missiles and drones earlier in the day.
The article further stated the F18 was is in the landing pattern when hit by an SM missile.
Another plane (The refueling tanker?) was also targeted, but the attack was called off.
I believe the missile itself can refuse to get to target if it identifies it as friendly. I may be wrong on this.
It makes a little more sense that a ship under repeated attack may shoot at something suddenly popping up on its radar screen seemingly about to hit the ship.
Rather than the way the story made it appear that a tanker lazily orbiting and refueling an aircraft would be targeted.
Guys on the Gettysburg were jumpy. System probably rejected the engagement on the tanker aircraft and somebody actually stopped and checked before over-riding it to fire anyway. (Sloppy training– when stuff asks “Are you sure? Y/N” or so, there might be a reason, kids.) The one refueling wasn’t as lucky.
“OMG, it’s comin’ right fer us!” (or the carrier the Gettysburg’s defending) seems to be the mindset. The F/A-18 probably took on enough fuel to make it back to the carrier then broke off to go do that, looking like a aircraft dropping an anti-ship missile (Exocet, anyone?) to the boys on the Gettysburg.
Tanker and refueling aircraft were likely high, slow and squawking in an area they thought everyone knew was a refueling track. Pay attention when there’re friendlies out there, make sure before you engage. Remember what happens when we Ass/U/Me.
More:
https://www.twz.com/air/f-a-18f-was-downed-by-friendly-fire-as-jets-were-about-to-land-on-the-carrier
Again !!!
This time, a near miss, ALSO by the USS Gettysburg,
only because the pilot evaded.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/24/us-news/second-navy-jet-nearly-brought-down-by-friendly-fire-in-red-sea/