Three US F-15E Strike Eagles participating in Operation Epic Fury crashed in Kuwait on March 1 following a suspected friendly fire event, CENTCOM reported.
Kuwaiti air defenses erroneously targeted the US Air Force jets during a period of intense combat, which featured strikes from Iranian drones, ballistic missiles, and aircraft, according to the publication.
Video: A US fighter jet crashes in Kuwait. Credit: Arab media
Visuals circulating on social media showed one of the planes spinning through the air in flames before it hit the ground west of Al-Jahra. Additional footage depicts the crew members descending by parachute, and a pilot being picked up by local civilians and placed in a private vehicle.
"All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition," the statement read. While expressing gratitude for the assistance provided by Kuwaiti forces during the mission, the report stated that Kuwait has acknowledged the error and that investigations into the root cause of the incident have been initiated.
The crash took place against the backdrop of extensive Iranian assaults on Gulf countries. The Kuwaiti military announced that its air defense units intercepted "several hostile aerial targets." Smoke was also observed in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Kuwait, and Kuwait International Airport was disabled following drone impacts.
