Three U.S. fighter jets have been shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in what American officials are describing as a “friendly fire incident.”
The confirmation follows an earlier update from Kuwait’s military confirming “several” jets had crashed, as video spread online showing the fiery aftermath of the plane falling to earth.
“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,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement.
“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.”
Footage posted online showed a jet falling from the sky in flames, and CNN analysis of the video suggested it was an F-15E twin-engine fighter jet.
Another video appeared to show a pilot parachuting to the ground.
All six aircrew ejected safely and survived, the statement said, with further details expected when Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth gives a press conference at 8 a.m. Eastern time.
“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”
A Kuwait defense spokesperson added that “direct coordination was conducted with the friendly U.S. forces regarding the circumstances of the incident, and joint technical measures were taken.”
The collision is now under investigation to determine the cause of the incident, the statement said, and Kuwaiti authorities will be “calling for information” from official sources.
The statement did not specify exactly where the collision occurred or where the aircraft was traveling to or from, but it is likely they were based at Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, approximately 23 miles from the Iraqi border.
Geolocation data from the video posted online suggested the collision occurred about 6 miles from the base, CNN reported.
The air base hosts a permanent U.S. presence with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, including a number of F-15E fighter jets.
The F-15E Strike Eagle was first designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed air superiority without relying on escorts or electronic-warfare aircraft.
It can be distinguished from other similar jets by its darker camouflage and fuel tanks.
The F-15E fighters played a key role in the first Gulf War, helping to drive Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait.
They have been based in the country since then.
