In an exclusive revelation, it has emerged that on the same night a U.S. Navy fighter jet was downed over the Red Sea, another jet narrowly escaped a similar fate.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet, flying a few miles behind the downed Hornet, was compelled to execute evasive maneuvers when a second surface-to-air missile was launched from the cruiser USS Gettysburg. The missile missed the second jet by a mere 100 feet as it was preparing to land on the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, according to an informed source.
As reported by Fox News, a Navy official confirmed the firing of a second SM-2 missile from the USS Gettysburg. The Navy is currently investigating whether this missile was intended for the second jet. Additionally, the Navy is probing whether the USS Gettysburg deactivated the guidance system on the second missile. The near downing of a second U.S. Navy jet has not been previously disclosed.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees airstrikes in the Middle East, including those against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, commented on the "friendly fire" incident earlier this week. They stated, "The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18, which was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman." However, the source refutes this, stating that the F/A-18 Super Hornet was attempting to land on the Truman when it was shot down after completing a midair refueling mission for jets conducting airstrikes over Yemen.
The source further elaborated, "It was a tanker crew returning to land on the carrier about 10 miles out. They recognized the missile was guiding and punched out about three seconds before the missile hit the jet." The pilot and weapons systems officer ejected and were rescued by a helicopter, returning to the carrier. One suffered "minor injuries," as per a Centcom statement.
Neither U.S. Central Command nor the Pentagon has disclosed that a second American fighter jet was fired upon by the cruiser and narrowly escaped being shot down. "The cruiser almost shot down two friendly jets," the source revealed.
On the night of the "friendly fire" incident, U.S. Central Command announced that its "forces conducted precision airstrikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility operated by Iran-backed Houthis within Houthi-controlled territory in Sana'a, Yemen, on Dec. 21 Yemen time." Since the friendly fire incident, there have been no further strikes against the Houthis from the Truman.
The incident has sparked anger among Navy pilots, leading them to question the training aboard the USS Gettysburg, which the source described as "insufficient." The "friendly fire" incident occurred days after the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier strike group arrived in the Red Sea. The Dec. 21 strikes against the Houthis were the first for the strike group since arriving off the coast of Yemen.
On the night Truman launched airstrikes against the Houthis, the American warships came under fire, which may have contributed to the "friendly fire" incident. In the statement announcing the strikes, Centcom said, "During the [Dec. 21] operation, CENTCOM forces also shot down multiple Houthi one way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) over the Red Sea." This incident underscores the volatile nature of military operations and the need for rigorous training and precision in such high-stakes environments.
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