A US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet crashed into the Red Sea after a landing attempt failed on the USS Harry S. Truman Aircraft Carrier, officials confirmed Tuesday. The pilot and weapons systems officer ejected and were recovered with minor injuries.
This incident marks the second such loss for the USS Harry S. Truman in just over a week while the carrier operates in the Red Sea region. The latest loss occurred Tuesday night local time.
According to officials familiar with the event, the jet failed to catch the arresting wire needed to stop upon landing. Initial reports suggest a tail hook failure contributed to the aircraft going off the deck and into the water.
The F/A-18F involved is a two-seater variant of the Super Hornet. A single F/A-18 fighter jet costs more than $60 million.
The previous loss occurred April 28 when another Super Hornet fell off the ship on April 28. That aircraft, an F/A-18E, went overboard from the hangar bay while being towed.
The USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is operating in a high-risk environment. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched repeated attacks against shipping and naval assets in the Red Sea since November 2023. US Navy ships have defended against numerous Houthi drones and missiles.
One US destroyer in early 2024 used its Phalanx Close-In Weapon System when a missile neared the vessel. The USS Harry S. Truman has faced other challenges during its deployment, including a December incident where an F/A-18 operating from the carrier was mistakenly fired upon by the USS Gettysburg, resulting in the jet crashing.
Separately on Tuesday, the Houthi group reportedly fired at the USS Harry S. Truman, despite President Donald Trump announcing an apparent ceasefire with the rebels hours before the attack. It is not clear if the Houthi attack is connected to the jet loss.
The USS Harry S. Truman also experienced a collision with a merchant ship near Egypt in February. The commander at the time, Captain Dave Snowden, was relieved of duty following that incident. Captain Christopher Hill assumed command shortly after. Investigations are underway into the recent jet losses.
