THIS is the shocking moment a US pilot is almost battered by a pipe-wielding local after he survived a fighter jet crash in Kuwait.
Footage shows a group of men aggressively shouting as they approach the pilot, while one raises a metal pole above his head.
The pilot scrambles to detach himself from his parachute as one of the men tries to pull him forward by its chord.
As the men close in, the American can be heard shouting “Back up” repeatedly.
He then gets down on his knees with his hands outstretched in front of him.
Suddenly the pilot shouts “I’m American” and the local immediately lowers his weapon before the group retreats.
The pilot was aboard one of three US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle jets shot down in a “friendly fire” incident over Kuwait on Monday.
Dramatic footage emerged showing the planes spiralling out of control as they plummet to the ground near the US Ali Al Salem base.
It comes as…
All pilots successfully ejected and were seen alive on the ground.
Other footage showed a female pilot smiling as a local approached her to offer his assistance.
A man recording the video can be heard saying: “You are safe. Thank you for helping us.”
While a third video showed another pilot, who appears to be able to walk, surrounded by Kuwaiti security officers.
Kuwait’s Defence Ministry confirmed several US warplanes crashed – with crews surviving.
US Central Command said in a statement: “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.
“During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the US 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. 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, it added.
Kuwait hosts the largest US military presence in the region, with some 13,500 troops stationed in the country, as well as Camp Arifjan, the forward HQ of US Army Central.
Iran previously claimed to be behind the attack, according to Iranian state media.
The incident came on Iran’s third day of retaliatory attacks after an American-Israeli operation took out Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran spread its strikes across the major Gulf States, with explosions rocking Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE over the weekend.
US President Donald Trump has said strikes will continue until its objectives are achieved and could last up to four weeks, with the “hardest hits yet to come”.
Americans have been ordered to stay away from the US embassy in Kuwait after smoke was seen rising from the area near the building on Monday.
As the war enters its fourth day on Tuesday, the US embassy in Saudi Arabia was blitzed in a suspected Iranian drone attack.
