US Fighter Jet Vanishes After Plunging Off Aircraft Carrier in the Red Sea, Navy Reports
A combat aircraft has reportedly gone missing in the Red Sea after it accidentally plunged into the water from an aircraft carrier when it was being transported on the hangar deck, according to statements made by the U.S. Navy.
On April 28, the F/A-18E Super Hornet slipped from the USS Harry S. Truman while sailors were moving it toward the hangar bay, as reported by the source. Navy The team had lost control of the aircraft, which crashed into the Red Sea together with the tow tractor.
The sailors who were pulling the jet promptly moved away from the aircraft before it collapsed, according to a navy statement. Everyone was present and accounted for, though one sailor received a slight injury.
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Initially, the cause of the loss of control over the aircraft by the crew members remained unclear. The Navy announced that they had initiated an investigation into the incident.
The aircraft was allocated to Strike Fighter Squadron 136. As per the Naval Air Systems Command, an F/A-18 fighter jet may have a price tag of around $60 million.
The incident occurred while the Truman Carrier Strike Group was deployed in the Middle East. The aircraft carrier has been operating in the region for months and has been aiding strikes against Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen.
"The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group along with the deployed air wing remains completely operationally ready," stated the Navy in a release.
The carrier might have changed course to avoid Houthi attacks.
U.S. authorities informed multiple media organizations that preliminary accounts from the location indicate the carrier swerved to dodge attacks from Houthi forces, as reported. ABC News , CNN , Politico and Reuters.
A U.S. official informed Reuters that early reports indicated the Truman abruptly changed course due to what appeared to be a Houthi assault nearby. However, it remained uncertain if this maneuver led to the aircraft going overboard.
ABC News reported that officials stated the early reports were still not verified.
The Houthis claimed in a previous announcement on April 28 that they had aimed at the aircraft carrier and its accompanying warships in retaliation for what the group termed as U.S.-caused civilian atrocities. This was not the first time the carrier had been targeted by the Houthis.
The Houthi-controlled media outlet announced on April 28 that they believed a U.S. airstrike had occurred. touched upon a facility imprisoning African migrants In Yemen, the assault resulted in at least 68 deaths and 47 injuries. This incident ranks as one of the most lethal attacks during the past six weeks targeting the Houthis.
President Donald Trump has intensified military operations Against the Houthis, this includes airstrikes on a fuel depot along the Red Sea coast earlier in April, which resulted in at least 74 fatalities. Government authorities have vowed to keep targeting Houthi forces until the group stops attacking vessels navigating the Red Sea.
U.S. Central Command On April 27, they reported that their forces had targeted over 800 locations since the commencement of Operation Rough Rider in Yemen on March 15. According to Central Command, these attacks resulted in the deaths of "several hundred Houthi fighters along with multiple Houthi leadership figures."
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Most recent event concerning USS Harry S. Truman
USA TODAY mentioned in early April that the Pentagon had extended the Truman’s deployment In the Middle East for an additional month. The Pentagon additionally dispatched a second fleet and deployed extra warplanes to the area.
In February, the Truman crashed into a cargo vessel. In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea close to Egypt, no injuries had been reported at that point.
The Navy subsequently dismissed Captain Dave Snowden In December 2023, Rear Admiral Sean Bailey assumed command of the Truman. According to reports, he relieved Snowden of his duties due to a "loss of confidence in (Snowden's) capability to lead" following the collision involving the Truman. a Navy release .
In December 2024, Central Command issued a statement indicating that they had accidentally shot down one of their own fighter jets over the Red Sea, which led to both pilots being forced to eject. According to Central Command, the incident was an apparent instance of friendly fire; subsequently, both pilots were recovered — with one sustaining only slight injuries.
The aircraft involved was an F/A-18 Hornet operating from the Truman. According to Central Command, one of the carrier’s protective vessels, the guided-missile cruiser Gettysburg, accidentally discharged upon and struck the plane.
Contributors: Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Davis Winkie, USA TODAY; Reuters
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY: A US fighter jet has gone missing after it fell off an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, according to the Navy.
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