Kuwait air defences mistakenly shoot down three US F-15s; crews eject
Mar 2nd 2026
The Pentagon described an apparent friendly fire incident after Kuwaiti air defence shot down three US F-15s participating in operations against Iran; all six crew ejected and are reported stable while video shows at least one jet plunging to the ground.
- US Central Command called the event an apparent friendly fire incident after three F-15 Strike Eagles were shot down by Kuwaiti air defence.
- All six crew members ejected and were reported stable, Central Command said.
- Video geolocated to Kuwait shows at least one fighter jet falling near Ali Al Salem Air Base.
- Debris from a downed aircraft struck the Mina Al Ahmadi refinery, injuring two workers, KIPIC said.
- U.S. officials suggested a Patriot MUM-104 air defence battery may have been involved, though the exact system was not formally confirmed.
- The shootdowns occurred amid Day 3 of intensified US and Israeli operations against Iran that have widened fighting and disrupted regional aviation and shipping.