‘Are You Ok?’: Video Shows Kuwaiti Civilian Helping Downed US Pilot After Friendly Fire Incident

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 12:57 IST

The viral clip, shared by an open-source intelligence (OSINT) platform, shows a uniformed pilot seated upright on the ground in an open, sandy area in daylight.

A video is doing rounds on social media platforms where a Kuwaiti civilian is seen approaching a US pilot who had ejected after three American fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences.

The viral clip, shared by an open-source intelligence (OSINT) platform, shows a uniformed pilot seated upright on the ground in an open, sandy area in daylight. A civilian man is seen approaching the pilot and speaking in English, asking, “Are you OK?" and adding, “Thank you for helping us."

News18 does not verify the authenticity of the video.

In the video, the pilot appeared conscious and responsive. No weapons were visible in the frame, and no physical confrontation was seen.

The video came after the US military said the three F-15 fighter jets that crashed in Kuwait were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences during active combat. It said that all six crew members ejected safely and are in a stable condition.

“At 11:03 pm ET, March 1, three US 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.

It added that the incident occurred during active combat that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. All six crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition.

The Kuwaiti Defence Ministry earlier confirmed that several American warplanes had crashed in the country but said all crew members survived. Authorities launched search and rescue operations immediately and transported the pilots to hospital for medical evaluation.

“Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived," a defence ministry spokesman said in a statement, adding that the cause was under investigation. “Authorities immediately initiated search and rescue operations, evacuating the crews and transporting them to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. He noted that their condition is stable," the statement added.

The F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter jet designed for US Air Force air superiority. Introduced in 1976, it holds an undefeated 104-0 air-to-air combat record as of 2026. However, it is unconfirmed whether they were deployed in the strikes against Iran.

The US launched a major military operation against Iran on February 28, called Operation Epic Fury, with the strikes targeting key Iranian military sites, including missile facilities, naval bases, and locations near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office.

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