DNA
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed that several US military aircraft crashed in Kuwaiti territory on March 2, 2026, amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
All crew members survived the incidents, with pilots and other personnel ejecting safely via parachute before the crashes occurred. The affected crews were quickly rescued by local authorities, evacuated, and transported to hospitals where they remain in stable condition with no reported fatalities or serious injuries.
Videos circulating online and geolocated by outlets such as CNN show at least one fighter jet, identified as appearing to be an F-15E Strike Eagle, spiraling downward in a tailspin while on fire before impacting the ground near the US Ali Al Salem Air Base, roughly within 10 kilometers of the facility in areas like west of Al Jahra.
Separate footage captures a pilot descending safely under parachute, with some locals assisting upon landing in certain instances. The exact number of aircraft involved has not been specified beyond “several,” and the precise cause remains under joint investigation by Kuwaiti and US authorities.
Speculation includes potential Iranian missile or drone strikes as part of Tehran’s retaliatory actions against US-allied Gulf states following recent US and Israeli operations targeting Iranian assets, possible friendly fire in heavily contested airspace, or technical failures, though no official determination has been released yet. The US Central Command has not issued a formal statement on the matter as of the latest reports.
This development underscores the heightened risks to American air operations in the region as the broader conflict continues to intensify with spillover effects across the Gulf.
