Israel-Iran war: Three US F-15 fighter aircraft mistakenly shot down by Kuwait air defence

An F-15 fighter jet

• Three US F-15E jets shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses by mistake
• All six crew members ejected safely and were rescued
• US and Kuwait investigating the friendly fire incident

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Three US warplanes were mistakenly shot down by Kuwait air defences late on Sunday night, the US Central Command said, an incident that occured during active fighting that included Iranian attacks.

The aircraft — U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles — were flying as part of an ongoing military mission when the incident occurred over Kuwaiti airspace.

According to an official 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.” The incident unfolded during a period of intense military activity in the region. U.S. forces were reportedly responding to multiple threats, including Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones.

The statement further clarified, “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 crew members on board the three aircraft managed to eject safely and were promptly rescued.

Officials confirmed, “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.”

Video images showed a U.S. warplane falling out of the sky over Kuwait early on Monday, while a person could be seen parachuting. The location was verified by Reuters as filmed in the Al Jahra area of Kuwait.

Both U.S. and Kuwaiti authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the misidentification occurred amid the high-intensity combat environment.

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

“The US suffered its first casualties in the war with Iran on Sunday, when three service members were killed and five others were ‘seriously wounded’ during operations against the Islamic Republic, US Central Command said without giving further detail.” The loss of multiple jets in a short span is rare for the US military. The United States has not lost several aircraft to enemy fire since the early phase of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Military analysts note that in high-intensity combat zones, friendly-fire incidents can occur.

In a so-called friendly-fire mishap, a military accidentally shoots down one of its own aircraft. Such incidents aren’t uncommon during intense air defense activity. Radars tracking large numbers of incoming missiles, for instance, can mistake aircraft for threats. A similar incident occurred in 2025, when the US Navy mistakenly shot down one of its own F-18 Hornet jets after it was misidentified as an incoming anti-ship cruise missile.

Meanwhile, Iran has offered a different version of events. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported earlier Monday that Iranian air defenses shot down a US F-15 fighter jet above Kuwait that intended to attack Iran. US officials have not confirmed that claim, and investigations into the crashes are ongoing. The developments mark a dangerous escalation in the Gulf, a region critical for global oil supplies — and one closely watched in India due to its energy dependence and large expatriate population in West Asia.

*With Agency Inputs