US confirms three F-15 jets downed in Kuwait in ‘friendly fire’ incident; all crew safe

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday that three American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets crashed in Kuwait after being mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences during intense combat operations linked to the ongoing joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran. All six aircrew survived. 

In a detailed statement, CENTCOM described the downing as an apparent incident of “friendly fire”, confirming earlier reports of multiple American aircraft lost over Kuwaiti territory.

Jets mistakenly shot down

According to the statement, the incident occurred late on 1 March.

“At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident. During active combat, that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, the US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.”

CENTCOM linked the crash to heightened hostilities involving Iranian missiles, drones and aircraft, part of the military escalation that has gripped the region in recent days.

All six crew members ejected safely

Despite the severity of the incident, all personnel survived.

“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition.”

CENTCOM added that Kuwaiti authorities responded promptly, helping rescue the downed crews.

“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”

Investigation under way

The US military said an inquiry has been launched to determine what led Kuwait’s air defences to misidentify American aircraft in the middle of a high-intensity combat environment.

“The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”

The downing occurred as F-15E jets were flying in support of Operation Epic Fury, a joint operation that has seen widespread strikes across the region following Iran’s attacks on Israel and US assets.