Two US Navy pilots ejected safely after their fighter jet was shot down over the Red Sea on Saturday in an apparent friendly fire incident, US Central Command said in a statement.

A U.S. Navy ship mistakenly shot down an American fighter jet over the Red Sea early Sunday, the U.S. military said, highlighting the potential risks for international forces as they try to stop attacks on cargo ships by the Houthi militia in Yemen.

An F/A-18 fighter jet was "mistakenly fired on" by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, authorities said.

American forces said friendly fire was responsible for shooting down an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet during military operations battling Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The post US fighter jet patrolling Red Sea shot down by ‘friendly fire’ appeared first on FreightWaves.

The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of a carrier strike group in the region, mistakenly fired on the jet, U.S. Central Command said.

A U.S. missile cruiser shot down a Navy fighter jet in what military officials said was a “friendly fire” incident over the Red Sea on Sunday, as the U.S. military has increased its presence in the Red Sea to fight back against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Two service members ejected above the Red Sea after a warship fired on their aircraft, according to U.S. Central Command. Both sustained minor injuries.

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.