https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/22/us-shoots-down-two-of-its-own-navy-pilots-over-red-sea-in-apparent-friendly-fire-incident
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/22/us-shoots-down-two-of-its-own-navy-pilots-over-red-sea-in-apparent-friendly-fire-incident
Not only that, but all military aircraft are outfitted with an enhanced version of IFF that includes an encrypted challenge/response that uses a rotating series of codes. IFF codes are loaded as part of preflight checks, so either they ignored it, or somebody really fucked up.
Its because Yemen shot it down. This is how amerika launders its losses.
Even better, the US shot it down because the missile locked onto a Yemeni drone that lured it right into the F-18's exhaust. Fucking incredible.
Either outcome is hilairous