‘One Kuwaiti pilot blasted all three US F-15 jets out of the sky in friendly fire blunder’
One Kuwaiti pilot blasted three US F-15 jets out of the sky in friendly fire blunder
A single Kuwaiti pilot operating an American-built jet accidentally downed three US F-15s during a friendly fire error, according to a report. The incident occurred as the pilot, stationed in Kuwait, targeted the planes believing them to be Iranian aircraft.
Sources close to the early reports of the incident told the Wall Street Journal that the F/A-18 pilot launched three missiles at the American planes. The mistaken identification led to the F-15E Strike Eagles crashing, with all six crew members ejected safely and later recovered for medical evaluation.
“Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived,” said a Kuwaiti defense ministry spokesperson on Monday, adding that authorities initiated search and rescue operations to evacuate the pilots.
The mishap unfolded near a US military base in Kuwait, where footage captured the dramatic moment an American pilot, who had parachuted from his downed jet, was approached by local men. One of the onlookers held a metal pipe while others shouted, prompting the pilot to plead, “Back up. Stop!” before revealing his nationality.
A separate social media clip showed an unnamed female pilot smiling broadly despite being shot down in the same incident. The video included a man asking her, “You need something to help you?” as he neared her, followed by the pilot responding, “No problem, you are safe, you are safe. Everything good? Thank you for helping us.”
Kuwait hosts the largest US military presence in the region, with over 13,500 troops stationed in the Middle East. The friendly fire incident follows a drone strike on Sunday that killed six American soldiers at a tactical operations center in Port Shuaiba. A satellite image taken Monday revealed the main building of the complex in ruins, with black smoke rising from the site.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Monday that the drone attack occurred in Port Shuaiba, a working seaport and industrial area south of Kuwait City. The Pentagon confirmed the strike killed four soldiers, with the remaining casualties still being identified. President Donald Trump and senior military officials have warned of further US losses as the conflict escalates.
