Washington, 22 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) - A US navy ship mistakenly shot down one of its own fighter jets in a "friendly fire" incident over the Red Sea, with the two pilots able to eject safely, though one sustained minor injuries.

The incident, announced on Saturday evening by the US Central Command CENTCOM, took place on Saturday morning.

The pilots' "F/A-18 fighter aircraft was shot down in an apparent case of friendly fire," CENTCOM wrote in a press release.

The fighter jet was flying off the USS Harry S Truman when a guided missle cruiser from the USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Truman's Carrier Strike Group, fired on the aircraft and hit it.

Both pilots were recovered and a full investigation is underway, CENTCOM said.

US forces are deployed in the region in part due to threats from the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen. On Saturday, the military once again bombed Houthi positions near the capital Sana'a. Additionally, several Houthi drones and a cruise missile were shot down over the Red Sea.

Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas more than a year ago, the Houthis have been regularly attacking targets in Israel and ships in the Red Sea with rockets and drones. The US military conducts strikes on Houthi facilities and weapons systems, including missiles and drones aimed at ships. In addition to the United States, other Western nations like the United Kingdom are involved in operations to ward off these attacks.