A US F-15 fighter jet was shot down and crashed in flames in Kuwait early Monday, with the pilots ejecting at the last moment, according to initial reports and videos circulating online. Early assessments suggest the aircraft may have been brought down by friendly fire while flying over Kuwait as part of an operation to detect and intercept hostile drones.
Footage posted on social media appears to show the twin-engine jet spiraling out of control and ablaze before slamming into the ground. Other videos show at least one pilot descending by parachute and later standing on the ground with his hands raised after landing safely.
According to analysis by CNN, the aircraft crashed about 10 kilometers from the US Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. So far, there has been no official confirmation from the United States Air Force regarding the cause of the crash or the condition of the other crew members.
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