Two Us Pilots Shot Down In 'friendly Fire' Over Red Sea, No Deaths

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Bernama-dpa) -- A US Navy ship mistakenly shot down one of its own fighter jets in a "friendly fire" incident over the Red Sea, with the two pilots able to eject safely, though one sustained minor injuries, reported German news agency dpa.

The incident, announced on Saturday evening by the US Central Command CENTCOM, took place on Saturday morning.

“The pilots' F/A-18 fighter aircraft was shot down in an apparent case of friendly fire," CENTCOM wrote in a press release.

The fighter jet was flying off the USS Harry S Truman when a guided missile cruiser from the USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Truman's Carrier Strike Group, fired on the aircraft and hit it.

Both pilots were recovered and a full investigation is underway, CENTCOM said.

US forces are deployed in the region in part due to threats from the Houthi fighters in Yemen. On Saturday, the military once again bombed Houthi positions near the capital Sana'a. Additionally, several Houthi drones and a cruise missile were shot down over the Red Sea.

-- BERNAMA-dpa