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In a surprising turn of events on Monday, three American fighter jets went down in Kuwait due to what has been described as a “likely friendly fire incident,” according to a statement from the US military.
The mishap occurred when Kuwaiti air defense systems mistakenly targeted and shot down the F-15E Strike Eagle jets. Fortunately, all six crew members were able to eject and land safely, as confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The jets were part of a mission named Operation Epic Fury, which is focused on military activities against Iran.
Earlier on Monday (afternoon AEDT), Kuwait’s defense ministry announced that “several” American fighter jets had crashed. However, they did not provide specific numbers or details on the cause. Each of these fighter jets represents an investment of tens of millions of dollars.
This development followed the release of videos, verified by CNN, showing a fighter jet crashing in Kuwait and a pilot descending to the ground via parachute.
“During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences,” the CENTCOM statement said.
“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”
“Relevant authorities immediately initiated search-and-rescue operations,” Kuwait’s defence ministry spokesperson Colonel Said Al-Atwan said in the statement.
“The crews were evacuating from the crash sites and transferred to hospital to assess their condition and provided necessary medical care,” he said.
The crew members are in a “stable” condition, the ministry added.
Al-Atwan said Kuwait was in “direct coordination” with US authorities.
One video geolocated by CNN shows a fighter jet crashing over Kuwait near a US air base. The video shows a jet on fire and falling in a tailspin out of the sky, and it suggests the jet came down within 10 kilometres of the US Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait.
Other videos geolocated by CNN appear to show a fighter jet pilot on the ground in Kuwait after ejecting from an aircraft.
In one of the videos, a man in a full flight suit and helmet can be seen kneeling on the ground next to an orange and white parachute and a parachute cord in a desert area near a fence line.
CNN has geolocated the video about 30 kilometres from the Ali Al Salem base.
In another video, the pilot is seen standing up as bystanders look on, with thick black smoke billowing in the distant background.
The crashes come during heavy bombardment on Gulf nations as part of an expanding war with Iran. It also comes as smoke has been seen over the area surrounding the US Embassy in Kuwait.
It is notable when US fighter jets crash overseas and often triggers an investigation.
In 2024, a US ship “mistakenly fired” upon a F/A-18 operating from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. The incident was investigated, and the two Navy pilots ejected safely.
The US military has a significant number of military assets in the region, deployed in the weeks leading up to the joint US-Israeli military operation that kicked off on Saturday. A list put out by CENTCOM on Sunday showing the assets employed thus far included F-18s, F-16s, F-22s, F-35s, A-10 attack aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper drones, refuelling aircraft, counter-drone systems, Navy aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers.
More than 1000 targets have been struck, the CENTCOM release on Sunday said, adding that the military is focusing on military targets like command and control centers, Iranian Navy ships and submarines, Islamic Revolutionary Guard corps headquarters and more.
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