Published: June 3, 2026 ⢠7:02 PM IST · Updated: June 5, 2026 ⢠9:58 AM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
In a story that seems straight from an action thriller film, a US Air Force (USAF) F-15E fighter pilot was reportedly shot down twice in less than five weeks while flying combat missions during the Iran War.
During the opening days of Operation Epic Fury, on March 1, 2026, three F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down in Kuwaiti airspace in a suspected case of friendly fire by Kuwaiti air defensesāmost likely an F/A-18C/D Hornet.
āAt 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.
During active combatāthat included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones ā the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,ā the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement at the time.
All six aircrew, including three fighter pilots and...