A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet was lost at sea after rolling off the USS Harry S. Truman while under tow, Navy officials said Monday, marking the latest in a series of operational mishaps for the carrier deployed in the Red Sea.
The jet, valued at more than $60 million, was being moved through the hangar bay when crew members lost control. "The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard," the Navy said in a statement. All personnel were accounted for, though one enlisted crew member sustained a minor injury.
Initial reports suggest that a sudden hard turn by the carrier to evade Houthi missile and drone fire may have contributed to the accident. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for targeting the Truman, though officials stressed the incident remains under investigation.
The aircraft sank shortly after falling into the Red Sea. A second U.S. official confirmed the loss and reiterated that despite the accident, the Truman Carrier Strike Group "remains fully mission capable."
The USS Harry S. Truman has been operating in the Red Sea since September as part of U.S. efforts to protect commercial shipping routes against persistent Houthi attacks. The deployment, originally scheduled to end last month, was extended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who ordered the USS Carl Vinson to bolster U.S. military presence in the region.
The Truman has encountered operational difficulties during its mission. In February, the carrier collided with a merchant ship near the Suez Canal, prompting the removal of its commanding officer. In December, an F/A-18 launched from the Truman was mistakenly shot down by the USS Gettysburg during a separate Red Sea operation, though both pilots ejected safely.
The Navy emphasized that an investigation is ongoing to determine the precise cause of the latest mishap. No timeline has been announced for recovery efforts, if any, to retrieve the aircraft from the ocean floor.
