‘One Kuwaiti pilot blasted all three US F-15 jets out of the sky in friendly fire blunder’
Kuwaiti Pilot Mistakenly Downed Three U.S. Jets in Friendly Fire Incident
A single Kuwaiti pilot operating an American-built fighter jet accidentally shot down three U.S. F-15 aircraft during a mid-air confusion, according to a recent report. The pilot, flying an F/A-18, launched three missiles at the American planes, sources close to the initial account of the event told the Wall Street Journal.
Monday morning saw the U.S. pilots forced to eject after the Kuwaiti operator misidentified their F-15E Strike Eagles as Iranian aircraft. The mishap reportedly cost U.S. forces over $300 million to replace the damaged planes. Footage circulating online captured a dramatic scene of an American pilot, who had parachuted from his downed jet, being approached by local men who appeared to believe he was an Iranian soldier.
‘Back up. Stop!’ the pilot was heard saying as the men drew nearer, waving a metal pole. The tension eased when the individual finally identified himself as American, prompting the group to back away.
The incident involved one of the three U.S. jets that were downed over Kuwait. A viral video showed the pilot being mistaken for an Iranian pilot, with locals moving toward him while shouting. The plane was observed in a tailspin, plummeting near a U.S. military base. Earlier footage had revealed the $90 million planes spiraling uncontrollably before crashing.
Kuwait’s Defense Ministry confirmed it was collaborating with the U.S. to investigate the ‘circumstances of the incident.’ A spokesperson stated that six crew members safely ejected and were taken to hospitals for assessment. ‘Authorities launched immediate search and rescue efforts, ensuring the crews were evacuated and treated. Their condition is stable,’ the official added.
The video of the pilot’s encounter followed another instance of camaraderie. A separate clip featured an unidentified female pilot grinning widely, despite being shot down moments earlier. A man on camera asked her, ‘You need something to help you?’ as he approached her. The pilot responded, ‘No problem, you are safe, you are safe. Everything good? Thank you for helping us,’ before the scene concluded.
Kuwait hosts the largest U.S. military contingent in the region, with approximately 13,500 troops stationed in the Middle East. This incident occurred shortly after a drone strike in Port Shuaiba killed six American soldiers on Sunday. The attack targeted a U.S. operations center, raising concerns about the effectiveness of safety measures during recent conflicts.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that the drone strike occurred in Port Shuaiba, located near Kuwait City. A satellite image taken Monday displayed the main structure of the complex in ruins, with black smoke rising from the site. The Pentagon confirmed the strike as the cause of the casualties, naming four of the fallen soldiers.
