Three US Fighter Jets Accidentally Shot Down Over Kuwait In ‘Friendly Fire’ Incident

Three American fighter jets were mistakenly shot down over Kuwait early Monday in what officials described as a “friendly fire” incident, with all six crew members safely ejecting from the aircraft.

According to the U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the jets were targeted by Kuwaiti air defense systems during an active combat mission connected to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The aircraft involved were three F-15E Strike Eagle fighters operating in the region during the third day of fighting following the launch of U.S.–Israeli airstrikes against Iran.

Military officials said the incident occurred during intense combat conditions that included Iranian aircraft, ballistic missile launches, and drone attacks across the region.

“All six crew members successfully ejected and have been recovered. They are currently in stable condition,” Centcom said in a statement.

The incident took place at approximately 11:03 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to a post by the command on X. Kuwaiti authorities acknowledged the event and announced that a formal investigation has been launched to determine how their air defenses mistakenly targeted allied aircraft.

Videos circulating online appear to show one of the jets falling from the sky over Kuwait’s Al Jahra area, with a pilot seen descending by parachute. Another clip reportedly shows one of the pilots sitting in the back of a vehicle while local residents assist him.

At a Pentagon briefing Monday morning, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefly addressed the incident.

“I’m aware of the loss of three U.S. Air Force F-15Es overnight in the region,” he said. “I’m grateful that the crews are safe. At this stage we know the aircraft were not brought down by hostile enemy fire. Because the situation is under investigation, I won’t comment further.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not mention the incident during his own remarks later in the briefing.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for striking a U.S. aircraft that crashed in Kuwait, though U.S. officials have attributed the incident to mistaken fire from Kuwaiti defenses.

The event highlights the growing chaos surrounding the conflict that began Saturday when President Donald Trump ordered U.S. forces to launch a large-scale air campaign against Iran, an operation the White House has called Operation Epic Fury. The strikes were carried out without formal approval from Congress.

The expanding conflict has already caused major disruptions across the region. Turkey’s transport ministry announced Monday that it had suspended flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, adding to widespread cancellations that have stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers worldwide.

Iran has responded to the airstrikes by launching missiles and drones across parts of the Middle East, some of which have struck civilian areas including hotels and residential neighborhoods. Iranian attacks have also targeted military facilities used by U.S. and allied forces, including a drone strike against the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that several American service members have already been killed or wounded since the conflict began. Initial reports listed three fatalities and five injuries, but officials later raised the death toll to four.

Earlier Monday, Kuwait issued a statement condemning what it described as “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks against sovereign territories across the region.”

“Iran’s actions represent a dangerous escalation that violates the sovereignty of multiple states and threatens regional stability,” the statement said. “Targeting civilians and non-combatant states undermines security and stability.”

In a separate development, witnesses reported seeing smoke rising near the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait City, with emergency vehicles responding to the area.

The aircraft involved in the incident, the F-15E Strike Eagle, is a twin-engine fighter developed by McDonnell Douglas and introduced in the 1970s. The aircraft is designed for both air-to-air combat and precision strikes against ground targets, making it a key asset in modern U.S. military operations.