3 US F15 jets mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti forces in friendly fire
2 min readUpdated: Mar 2, 2026 04:50 PM IST
Three US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down during active combat by Kuwaiti air defences in an incident of friendly fire, the US Central Command said in a press statement. It said that the three US F-15E fighter jets were flying in support of the ongoing military operations in Iran.
Earlier, social media videos had showed US warplanes spiralling out of control and crashing to the ground in a fireball.
What US Centcom said
Stressing that the cause of the incident is under investigation, the US Centcom released the following statement: “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 U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.
All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
