‘Thanks For Helping Us!’: Watch Kuwaitis Come To Aid Of American Pilot Shot Down By Friendly Fire

Video posted on social media Monday showed Kuwaitis assisting a female American servicemember involved in a friendly-fire incident.

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that three F-15E Strike Eagle fighters were accidentally downed by Kuwaiti air defense units Sunday during “active combat” with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The video posted by Faytuks Network showed Kuwaiti locals running toward one of the six Air Force personnel—three pilots and three weapon systems officers (WSO)—who safely ejected from their stricken aircraft.

“You’re fine? Really? You need something to help you?” the person holding the phone asked the female aircrew, whose oxygen mask was dangling from her flight gear as she reassured them she was okay. “No problem, you’re safe. You’re safe, you’re safe. Everything good?”

WATCH:

“Thank you for helping us,” the Kuwaiti added.

“At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident,” CENTCOM said in a statement released Monday. “During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.”

“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition,” CENTCOM continued. “Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”

The Boeing F-15E is a multi-role fighter-bomber that has been in service since 1989, according to a United States Air Force fact sheet. It has a top speed in excess of Mach 2.5, a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon, can carry AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and can carry just about any air-to-surface weapon in the United States military’s inventory.

The United States Air Force had 219 F-15Es on inventory, according to the Air Force fact sheet.

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