Fighter Jet Plunges Into Red Sea From U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier
An F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet fell into the Red Sea after an accident aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier currently deployed in the Middle East.
Jet Lost During Routine Tow Operation
The incident occurred on Monday while sailors were towing the aircraft into place inside the hangar bay. According to Navy officials, the crew lost control of the jet during the maneuver, and both the aircraft and the towing vehicle went overboard.
Fortunately, both the sailor driving the tug and the one inside the jet managed to jump clear before the equipment hit the water. One sailor suffered a minor injury and is recovering. The Navy has not disclosed the names of those involved, citing privacy concerns.
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$60 Million Jet Goes Overboard
The F/A-18E Super Hornet was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 136, one of the squadrons operating from the Truman. These jets are often moved around the hangar deck to position them for flight operations or maintenance. It remains unclear whether a recovery mission will be launched to retrieve the aircraft, which is valued at around $60 million.
“The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft,” the Navy said in a statement. “The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard.” An investigation is underway to determine exactly what went wrong.
USS Truman Extends Middle East Deployment
The USS Harry S. Truman has been stationed in the Middle East for several months and is playing a key role in U.S. military operations in the region. Most recently, the carrier has supported daily strikes targeting Houthi rebel forces in Yemen, using a combination of jets, bombers, drones, and naval firepower. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth extended the Truman’s deployment by about a month to continue these operations.
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