The jet, which had taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier on December 22, was struck by weapons fired from the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the same carrier strike group. Both pilots safely ejected from the aircraft, with one sustaining minor injuries.
The incident occurred amid a period of increased military operations against the Houthis, a Yemeni militant group, who have been targeting shipping routes in the region.
CENTCOM described the firing as a "mistaken" attack, noting that it is under investigation.
This marks the first time in over a year of US military operations in Yemen that a crewed aircraft has been shot down.
Previous incidents involved the Houthis targeting drones but never manned jets or helicopters.
On the same day, CENTCOM reported that US forces had successfully intercepted multiple drones and missiles fired by the Houthis at US and British assets in the region.
The USS Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, is equipped with various missile systems, including the Navy’s Standard Missiles, which are primarily used to counter Houthi weaponry. It's unclear what specific weapon was used to down the F/A-18.
The US Navy, along with British forces, has been actively engaged in the Red Sea region while also conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, including missile storage facilities and command posts in Sana'a.
