U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down Over Red Sea in Friendly Fire Incident; Aviators Safe

USNI ^ | 12/21/24 | Sam Lagrone

[hardspunned]

Two U.S. Navy aviators are safe after their two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet was shot down by an American ship by mistake, according to a late Saturday statement from U.S. Central Command.

The Super Hornet, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was flying over the Red Sea when guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) fired upon it, according to the CENTCOM statement.

“Both pilots were safely recovered. Initial assessments indicate that one of the crew members sustained minor injuries. This incident was not the result of hostile fire, and a full investigation is underway,” reads a statement from CENTCOM.

A Navy official told USNI News the incident occurred around 3 a.m. local time on Sunday or about 7 p.m. East Coast time on Saturday. The Super Hornet was assigned to Carrier Air Wing One, and embarked aboard Truman, an official told USNI News. While the CENTCOM statement didn’t specify the squadron, the only two-seat F/A-18F squadron embarked aboard Truman are the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

[hardspunned]

Incredible!

[Rummyfan]

What the hell... the IFF was off?! We can shoot down our own aircraft but haven’t put the Houthis out of action?!

[Rummyfan]

And Thank Gawd the crew is safe but... someone made a $25M mistake!

[ClearCase_guy]

I wonder what really happened.

[A strike]

$40 million “oops”

[ViLaLuz]

This is very bad news.

[Red Badger]

Wow............

[wildcard_redneck]

What if the Navy is not being honest about what really shot the plane down? There is crazy military action going on the world over and the Red Sea is a hotbed of conflict now.

[Red Badger]

Guess who’s not making Admiral.........

[ALPAPilot]

The revenge of the Black Shoe.

[Repeal The 17th]

USS GETTYSBURG (CG 64)
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser

[jerod]

According to Wiki...

The US Navy buys Super Hornets for $52 million per aircraft, while the advanced model costs $6–$10 million more per aircraft, dependent on options selected.

The price has obviously increased.

[DSH]

What if the Navy is not being honest about what really shot the plane down? There is crazy military action going on the world over and the Red Sea is a hotbed of conflict now.

Yes. Who or what did they think they were firing on?

A strange story, this.

[wetgundog]

DEI in the Armed Forces is deadly.

[AndyJackson]

Given they can’t pass an audit does the Pentagon have a clue how much it costs to replace one Super Hornet and one standard missile.

[wgmalabama]

Exactly what I was going to ask.

[Rummyfan]

The US Navy buys Super Hornets for $52 million per aircraft, while the advanced model costs $6–$10 million more per aircraft, dependent on options selected.

Another $10M for the turbo?! Geez, $52M doesn't buy what it used to!

[Repeal The 17th]

Captain Justin R. Hodges
Commanding Officer, USS Gettysburg (CG-64)

A native of Adak, Alaska, CAPT Hodges earned a Bachelor of Science
from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997. He earned a Masters of
Engineering Management from Old Dominion University and a
Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies
from the U.S. naval War College.
He will assume command of USS GETTYSBURG
(CG 64) in February 2023.

[Rummyfan]

I’m thinking there must be at least four safeties before actually firing a missile.... so one DEI type could not be responsible... multiple failures in the chain of command.

[Rummyfan]

OTOH, the missile worked properly.