All six aircrew ejected safely
KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT — Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot down three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets during an overnight combat mission as Iran launched missiles and drones across the Gulf, U.S. Central Command said Mon., March 2, 2026.
The downing marked a sharp and unusual turn in a fast-moving regional war, underscoring how crowded and confused Gulf skies have become as U.S. and allied forces face waves of Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. U.S. officials said all six aircrew members ejected safely and were recovered with injuries described as stable. Kuwait acknowledged the aircraft were hit by mistake as it worked to defend its airspace and key sites, and the U.S. military said it has opened an investigation.
The incident happened late Sun. night as the jets flew in support of a U.S. combat operation against Iran that officials have described as part of a wider campaign with Israel. Central Command said the aircraft went down at 11:03 p.m. Eastern time, March 1, as Iranian attacks were underway. In Kuwait, the timing put the crash during a period when residents reported loud blasts overhead and flashes across the night sky as air defenses engaged incoming threats. A Kuwaiti witness, Ahmed al-Asar, said he saw one jet engulfed in flames and watched an American airman drift down under a parachute. “It was burning as it fell,” al-Asar said, adding that the parachute appeared moments later against the dark.
Central Command said three F-15E Strike Eagles were “mistakenly shot down” by Kuwaiti air defenses after the aircraft were misidentified during active combat. The command said Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones were in the air at the same time. All six aircrew members ejected, were recovered without further incident and were receiving medical care, the command said. It did not identify the crews or specify where they were based. The F-15E is a two-seat fighter used for strike missions and air-to-air combat, meaning each aircraft carried a pilot and a weapons systems officer.
Kuwaiti officials publicly acknowledged the error while stressing their continued support for U.S. forces stationed in the country. The friendly-fire episode came as Kuwait reported repeated air defense activity over several days, with Iranian drones and missiles crossing the Gulf amid widening strikes that have rattled aviation routes and energy infrastructure. In one separate incident reported by local officials and international media, falling debris from intercepted drones slightly injured two workers at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery complex south of Kuwait City, a major part of the country’s oil industry. Authorities said operations continued while emergency teams responded to the injuries and secured the area.
Across the region, the war’s tempo has been measured in volleys and counterstrikes rather than days. Iran has sent waves of drones and missiles toward U.S. and allied positions and key locations in Gulf states, while U.S. and Israeli forces have struck targets in Iran. In Kuwait City, smoke was reported near the U.S. Embassy compound during the same period, though officials have not provided a detailed public account of what caused it. The U.S. military did not tie the embassy-area smoke to the jet downings, and Kuwait’s government has not released a full timeline of air defense engagements, radar tracks or firing decisions.
In Tehran, Iranian officials have offered only broad claims about the impact of their attacks, and those statements have been difficult to verify independently. Iranian media and military voices have said Iranian forces are targeting U.S. assets and bases in the Gulf and have vowed further strikes. Iran also suggested, without providing details, that at least one American aircraft had been hit during the fighting, though U.S. officials said the three F-15E losses were the result of misidentification by Kuwaiti air defenses rather than Iranian fire. The competing claims, and the speed of the exchanges, have added to the fog that surrounds the air war.
U.S. officials said the immediate focus was on the crews’ recovery and on preventing another misfire as operations continue. Central Command said an investigation is underway to determine how the aircraft were identified as hostile and what steps might reduce the risk of confusion during large salvos. Military officials typically examine radio calls, air defense radar data, command-and-control decisions and engagement timelines in such cases. Any findings could shape rules for air defense engagements, coordination between U.S. aircraft and host-nation forces, and the placement of combat air patrols during future attacks.
The shootdown also highlighted the strain on Gulf air defenses as countries try to protect crowded urban areas, oil installations and diplomatic sites while foreign aircraft operate nearby. Kuwait hosts U.S. forces and facilities that support regional missions, and its defenses have been on high alert as Iranian weapons cross the Gulf. Residents described a tense night of repeated blasts and flashes, with some gathering on rooftops or at windows to watch interceptors arc through the sky. “You could hear it in waves,” said a Kuwait City resident who asked not to be named for fear of drawing attention during a security emergency. “First the alarms, then the sound overhead.”
For the U.S. military, the loss of three jets in a single night is a major setback even with no reported deaths, and it adds another layer of risk to an already escalating fight. Central Command did not provide an estimate for when the investigation would be completed, and Kuwait has not announced whether it will release its own findings. U.S. operations in the region continued Mon., and officials said further updates would depend on the investigation and on the pace of Iranian attacks.
Author note: Last updated March 2, 2026.