Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea on Sunday in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, U.S. officials said.

The pilots ejected from their aircraft and were found alive after a ship in the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group mistakenly fired a missile at the two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet, according to the Associated Press. One of the pilots suffered minor injuries. The fighter jet was assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

The plane had taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier moments before the incident, according to Central Command. 

“The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.

It was not clear how the friendly fire incident occurred, as the ships are part of the same battle group and would be connected via radar and radio communications, the AP reported.

The Truman entered the Red Sea region as early as December 15, according to USNI News.

The carrier group, which is targeting Houthi rebels, has shot down multiple drones and anti-ship cruise missiles from rebels in the Red Sea region, Central Command said.

At the time of the incident, the U.S. was carrying out airstrikes near Yemen’s capital city Sana’a, which is situated more than 140 miles from the Red Sea coast.

The Houthis have attacked some 100 merchant vessels since the start of the Israel–Hamas War in October 2023. They say they are targeting ships with connections to Israel, the U.S. or the U.K. as retribution for Israel’s actions in Gaza. However, many of the ships have no relation to the conflict.