JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A retired admiral is offering insight into a rare “friendly fire” incident that occurred over the Red Sea, where the U.S. Navy accidentally shot down one of its own fighter jets.
The mishap involved an F/A-18 fighter aircraft from a Virginia-based squadron, which was hit by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, based in Norfolk. The two Navy pilots aboard the aircraft ejected and were safely recovered. One sustained minor injuries.
Retired Admiral Bob Natter emphasized the unusual nature of the incident, saying that the Navy works hard to prevent mistakes.
He said both men are lucky to be alive, which he attributes to “some luck, great training, and great equipment.”
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time of the friendly fire incident, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what the pilots' mission was.
Ships from Mayport have previously intercepted missiles in the region.
The incident raises questions about how a Navy aircraft could be mistakenly targeted. Natter explained the complexities involved.
“We’ve got air controllers who track a lot of aircraft in the sky. But you have to be able to detect the ones who are enemies and ones who are one of ours,” he said.
Natter adds that he’s unsure if the problem of shooting two pilots is a user or system error, but says there’s only one way to fix any problems happening in the Red Sea. “The real solution to this is to go after the source of the problem, not the problem once it’s in flight.”
That source, according to Natter, is Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The Navy has launched a full investigation to determine what went wrong. Natter believes the findings will serve as a learning opportunity for future operations.