The US Army announced that an F-18 plane was shot down in the Red Sea, in the most serious incident threatening the US Navy during its deployment in the region.

According to the American Associated Press, the two pilots were recovered alive, while one of them was slightly injured, but the downing of the plane confirms how dangerous the Red Sea corridor is due to the continuous attacks on ships by the Houthis

US Central Command claimed that the downed F/A-18 had just taken off from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and was targeted by friendly fire by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg.

The Associated Press said it was not immediately clear how the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy plane or missile, especially since ships in a battle group remain connected by radar and radio communications.