The U.S. military reported that two U.S. Navy pilots were downed over the Red Sea on Sunday; the incident appeared to be a case of friendly fire.

Both pilots survived after ejecting from their aircraft, with one sustaining minor injuries.

This event underscores the significant risks in the Red Sea region, where Iranian-backed Houthi attacks on vessels continue despite the presence of U.S. and European naval coalitions.

The incident occurred during U.S. airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, although U.S. Central Command offered no details about the mission’s objectives.

The downed aircraft was identified as a two-seater F/A-18 Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (“Red Rippers”), based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

Central Command confirmed the F/A-18 had just taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. While the Truman’s arrival in the Middle East was announced on December 15th, its location in the Red Sea at the time of the incident wasn’t specified then.

According to a Central Command statement, the USS Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser within the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly engaged and hit the F/A-18.