Three U.S. F-15Es Shot Down by Kuwait in Friendly Fire — $270M Lost on Day 2 of War
On the second day of the Iran war, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait by Kuwaiti air defenses in a friendly fire incident. All six crew ejected safely. A Kuwaiti F/A-18 reportedly fired on allied jets. Analysts called it "bizarre."
On the second day of Operation Epic Fury (March 1-2, 2026), three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait — not by Iran, but by Kuwaiti air defenses in a catastrophic friendly fire incident.
The jets were actively engaging Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones at around 7 PM local time when they were hit. All six aircrew ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition.
Subsequent reporting revealed the shootdown was carried out by a Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18 Hornet. Military analysts described the incident as "bizarre" — particularly the within-visual-range nature of the engagement, meaning the Kuwaiti pilot could likely see the American aircraft markings before firing.
Three F-15E Strike Eagles at approximately $90 million each: roughly $270 million in aircraft destroyed by an ally on Day 2 of a war. An investigation is ongoing, but the incident exposed a fundamental flaw in a conflict launched without the allied coordination that normally prevents such disasters.
When the U.S. fought the Gulf War in 1991, it spent months building a coalition, establishing identification friend-or-foe protocols, and conducting joint exercises. Operation Epic Fury was launched on a Saturday at 4 AM without congressional authorization. Two days later, an ally was shooting down American jets.