‘One Kuwaiti pilot blasted all three US F-15 jets out of the sky in friendly fire blunder’
US F-15s downed by Kuwaiti pilot in friendly fire incident
A Kuwaiti airman piloting a U.S.-produced fighter jet inadvertently destroyed three American F-15 aircraft during a misidentification error, according to a report. The incident, which occurred on Monday, resulted in the loss of three warplanes valued at $300 million.
Initial accounts from sources close to the event, shared with the Wall Street Journal, revealed that the pilot launched three missiles at the U.S. jets, mistaking them for Iranian fighters. The U.S. pilots were compelled to eject after the confusion, with all crew members safely recovered.
Footage circulating online depicted the chaotic scene as an American pilot, who had fallen from his aircraft, was approached by local civilians. One individual raised a metal pole while others shouted, prompting the pilot to urgently declare, “Back up. Stop!” before the group realized he was not an Iranian soldier.
“No problem, you are safe, you are safe. Everything good? Thank you for helping us,” the man on camera said as he interacted with the pilot.
Additional clips showed a female pilot smiling broadly despite being shot down moments earlier. The third crew member was seen walking on the ground after a successful ejection, while the second pilot appeared to be in a stable condition following the incident.
Drone strike in Kuwait claims six American lives
Meanwhile, a separate attack unfolded in Port Shuaiba, where an Iranian drone strike targeted a U.S. military operations center. The strike killed six American soldiers on Sunday, as confirmed by the Pentagon.
The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, stated Monday that the casualties occurred when a projectile bypassed air defenses. A satellite image from the same day revealed the main structure of the complex in ruins, with black smoke rising from the site.
Kuwait, which hosts the largest U.S. military force in the region—comprising around 13,500 troops—faced heightened tensions as the incident unfolded. The drone strike comes amid ongoing hostilities, with Iran retaliating against U.S. and Israeli strikes in the area.
President Donald Trump and U.S. defense officials warned that further American losses could occur as operations continue. The Pentagon later confirmed the attack as a drone strike, releasing the names of four victims while the remaining two were still being identified.