Three US fighter jets downed in Kuwait in ‘friendly fire’ accident
Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down in Kuwait during active combat on March 1 in what the Pentagon described as a friendly-fire incident. Kuwaiti air defenses were responsible for the downings; all six crew members ejected and are in stable condition,according to CENTCOM. The cause is under investigation. The jets were supporting Operation Epic Fury amid ongoing clashes with Iranian forces, including attacks by aircraft, missiles, and drones.
The episode comes amid a broader regional confrontation in the Middle East, with Iran and its proxies carrying out attacks that have affected Kuwait, including a drone strike that damaged Kuwait’s international airport and an attack on a base housing Italian troops. Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said it coordinated with U.S. forces and implemented joint technical measures, and authorities urged details from official sources. European allies—Britain, France, and Germany—vowed to defend Gulf allies. Video footage circulated online showing the crashes.
Three US fighter jets downed in Kuwait in ‘friendly fire’ accident
Three U.S. military jets “went down” in Kuwait in a friendly fire incident, the Pentagon announced Monday morning.
The three F-15s were shot down during active combat by the Kuwaiti air defense systems. The six pilots were ejected and are in stable condition, according to a U.S. CENTCOM release issued Monday.
“At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident,” the release said. “During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.”
The cause of the incident is under investigation, CENTCOM confirmed.
F-15E Strike Eagles, the planes involved, seat two crew members: a pilot and a weapon system officer, according to the U.S. Air Force. It is “designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions” and can be used during low-altitude flights, “day or night and in all weather.”
The incident comes as U.S., Israeli, and Iranian military forces battle throughout the Middle East and Persian Gulf region. Kuwait has been one of the many Gulf States to be hit by retaliatory strikes from Iran and its proxies.
A drone attack over the weekend caused damage and chaos at the Kuwait International Airport, the country’s aviation authority said Saturday. Minor injuries were reported. A Kuwaiti military base that housed Italian soldiers was also hit Saturday, according to Kuwaiti officials, though no casualties were reported.
After the friendly-fire incident, the country’s Ministry of Defense said “direct coordination” took place with U.S. forces and “joint technical measures” were taken.
“He stressed that the relevant authorities are following up on the investigations to determine the causes of the accident, calling for information to be obtained from official sources,” the post noted.
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Two videos circulated on social media showing the crashes. In one video, a U.S. fighter jet is seen on fire and free-falling to the ground near the U.S. Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, CNN reported. In a second video, a pilot was seen ejected from his aircraft and parachuted to the ground.
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