Newsletters
"Several" U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-15E Strike Eagles crashed near Al Jahra, Kuwait, with both the pilot and weapons systems officer ejecting safely and surviving, according to footage circulating online and media reports.
"The spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense stated that several U.S. military aircraft crashed this morning, confirming the complete safety of their crews," according to a statement from the Kuwait Ministry of Defense on X on Monday.
"He explained that the relevant authorities immediately initiated search and rescue procedures, whereby the crews were evacuated and transferred to the hospital to check on their health status and provide the necessary medical care, noting that their condition is stable," the statement added.
"The official spokesperson added that direct coordination was conducted with the friendly U.S. forces regarding the circumstances of the incident, and joint technical measures were taken. He affirmed that the concerned authorities are following up on the investigations to determine the causes of the incident, calling for information to be obtained from its official sources," the statement noted.
Widely shared videos on social media showed what was identified as an F-15E Strike Eagle crashing west of Al Jahra, Kuwait.
White smoke was visible in the sky, leading to speculation that the aircraft may have been struck by friendly fire.
Both the pilot and weapons systems officer onboard appeared to have survived, with footage showing one of the crew members descending by parachute after ejecting from the aircraft.
An additional video showed the crew member being placed into a civilian vehicle by locals before being transferred to local authorities in Kuwait.
The crash site was geolocated west of Al Jahra, at approximate coordinates 29.343545, 47.645204, with independent analysts reaching the same conclusion.
The cause of the crash, whether a mechanical malfunction or a shoot-down, remains unknown.
According to media reports, air raid sirens sounded across Kuwait amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran, signaling an alert status as the military responded to the threat.
The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait issued an urgent advisory telling American citizens not to come to the embassy.
The U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs said in a statement, "There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the Embassy. Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside."
The statement added that U.S. Embassy personnel are sheltering in place and urged citizens to review security plans in the event of an attack.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
6 min read
