Fact check: US says a F/A-18F was shot down due to friendly fire today

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

The statement is accurate but lacks critical details. A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet was indeed shot down by friendly fire from the USS Gettysburg on December 21, 2024. Both pilots ejected safely, with one sustaining minor injuries. The aircraft was operating from the USS Harry S. Truman carrier.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

• The incident occurred during heightened military operations against Houthi forces in Yemen, with U.S. forces conducting airstrikes earlier that same day
• This is the first crewed American aircraft lost in 14 months of operations against Houthi rebels
• The USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group had only recently entered the region (December 14, 2024)
• The incident happened amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea, where Houthis have been targeting commercial shipping routes in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict
• A full U.S. Central Command investigation is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:

• The statement says "today" which is technically incorrect - the incident occurred on December 21, 2024
• The statement oversimplifies a complex military situation by not mentioning the broader context of ongoing operations against Houthi forces
• By merely stating "friendly fire" without context, it fails to communicate that this occurred during active military operations in a highly volatile region
• The statement doesn't mention that this is an unprecedented incident in the current conflict, being the first crewed aircraft loss in the ongoing operations