‘One Kuwaiti pilot blasted all three US F-15 jets out of the sky in friendly fire blunder’
One Kuwaiti pilot mistakenly downed three U.S. F-15s in a friendly fire incident
A Kuwaiti pilot operating an American-built fighter jet accidentally shot down three U.S. F-15s during a friendly fire mishap, according to a report. The error occurred as the pilot, flying an F/A-18, fired three missiles at the American planes, mistaking them for Iranian aircraft.
US pilots had to eject after the Kuwaiti pilot identified their F-15E Strike Eagles as Iranian planes on Monday, resulting in an estimated $300 million in replacement costs for the U.S. military. Footage circulating online revealed the dramatic moment an American pilot, who had parachuted from his downed jet, was approached by Kuwaiti civilians who believed he was an Iranian soldier.
Social media clips captured the startling scene of an American pilot, who had parachuted from his downed jet, being approached by Kuwaiti civilians who believed he was an Iranian soldier. A group of locals were seen moving toward the pilot, one of them waving a metal rod as they shouted. The pilot was heard urging, “Step back! Hold on!” as the men closed in, convinced the airman was Iranian.
The tense situation eased once the pilot clarified his identity, revealing he was American. The locals then retreated, leaving him alone. The pilot was aboard one of the three U.S. jets that were erroneously targeted, with the footage showing him backing away after the locals recognized him as a U.S. serviceman.
Separate drone strike in Kuwait kills six American troops
This incident follows a separate attack where an Iranian drone struck a U.S. operations center in Kuwait, killing six American troops on Sunday. The development has raised concerns about the safety protocols in place as the U.S. and Israel launched an assault on Iran, which has responded with retaliatory strikes across the region.
President Donald Trump and top defense officials have warned that more U.S. casualties are expected. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Monday that the six soldiers were killed in a “tactical operations center” when a projectile bypassed air defenses. The Pentagon confirmed the next day that the attack took place at Port Shuaiba, a key seaport and industrial area near Kuwait City.
A satellite image taken Monday showed the main building of the complex in ruins, with dark smoke rising from the site. The US military maintains a significant presence in Kuwait, with approximately 13,500 troops stationed in the Middle East.
‘Several U.S. warplanes crashed this morning. We are confirming all crew members survived,’ said a spokesperson for Kuwait’s defense ministry.
In another viral video, an unidentified female pilot appeared visibly elated, smiling broadly despite being shot down moments earlier in the same friendly fire incident. The man recording the footage asked, “You need something to help you?” as he approached her.
A separate clip showed the third pilot walking on the ground after successfully ejecting. The man continued, “No problem, you are safe, you are safe. Everything good? Thank you for helping us,” as the pilot seemed unfazed by the earlier chaos.
