U.S. cruiser accidentally shoots down friendly F/A-18 fighter jet

A U.S. missile cruiser accidentally shot down an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet during its flight over the Red Sea.

The US Naval Institute reported this.

The aircraft was shot down by the missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64), which is part of the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).

The carrier group was deployed in the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at fighting Yemeni Houthis, helping to intercept missiles targeting Israel, and participating in strikes against ISIS terrorists in Syria and other regions.

The downed F/A-18F Super Hornet is a two-seat variant of the Super Hornet fighter jet designed for air defense of carrier-based formations. It is the main means of providing air defense and long-term patrolling.

According to the U.S. Central Command, the search has been completed: both pilots have been found, and one of them suffered minor injuries.

“Both pilots were rescued. According to preliminary estimates, one of the crew members sustained minor injuries,” the U.S. Central Command stated.

A Navy spokesman shared with USNI News that the incident occurred around 3 a.m. local time. The aircraft was part of the 1st Aircraft Carrier Wing.

As noted by the US Navy, the USS Gettysburg missile cruiser, as part of the aircraft carrier group, serves as the group’s air defense coordinator. It is responsible for monitoring the airspace, eliminating air objects, and guiding other ships to their targets.

The cruiser was deployed alongside the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier on September 23, 2024, and has been escorting it ever since.

Militarnyi previously reported that in October 2024, an EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft crashed in the United States during a training flight.

The EA-18G aircraft was part of the VAQ-130 unit, which recently returned from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier for a rotation. Eisenhower aircraft carrier after a combat deployment in the ocean.

Today, the U.S. Navy operates about 180 EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, the only type capable of jamming deep into enemy territory.