The U.S. Navy has lost another fighter jet from the USS Harry S. Truman, marking the second such incident in just over a week during the carrier’s tense deployment in the Red Sea.
According to sources familiar with the situation, an F/A-18F Super Hornet went down while attempting to land on the Truman.
Preliminary details suggest the jet experienced an arrestment failure—a malfunction during the aircraft’s attempt to catch the arresting cable on deck.
The pilot and weapons systems officer managed to eject safely and were rescued by a helicopter. Both are alive and suffered only minor injuries.
The $60 million fighter jet sank into the Red Sea and has not yet been recovered.
What makes the incident even more concerning is that it happened the same day Iran-backed Houthi rebels reportedly fired at the USS Truman, despite a supposed ceasefire announced earlier by former President Donald Trump.
It’s still unclear if the attempted attack and the jet crash are connected.
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This marks the second time in recent weeks the Truman has lost a Super Hornet. Just last week, another jet fell into the sea after the ship made a sudden evasive turn to avoid enemy fire.
The Truman’s current deployment has faced a series of mishaps. In December, another F/A-18 crashed after being accidentally fired upon by the USS Gettysburg.
In February, the carrier collided with a merchant ship in the Mediterranean, resulting in a change in leadership on board.
As tensions in the Red Sea remain high, the U.S. Navy is investigating what caused this latest incident. The Pentagon has directed all questions to the Navy and Central Command, who have not yet provided official comment.
Despite the setbacks, operations continue, with Navy officials emphasizing the importance of maintaining security and stability in the region’s critical shipping lanes.
