Navy F/A-18E Fighter Jet Falls Off USS Harry S. Truman, Sinks in Red Sea

Hadisur Rahman, Jadetimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Ricardo Reyes/U.S. Navy

A $70 million U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet was lost to the depths of the Red Sea after an accident aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, the Navy confirmed Monday.

The incident occurred while the jet was being towed out of the hangar bay. During the process, the move crew lost control of both the aircraft and the tow tractor, which rolled overboard. The mishap resulted in the complete loss of both assets.

According to Navy officials, two enlisted crew members were involved in the operation one inside the tow tractor and the other aboard the aircraft. Both individuals were able to escape in time, with one sailor sustaining only a minor injury.

“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. “Sailors towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard. An investigation is underway.”

The USS Harry S. Truman has been deployed in the Red Sea since September, tasked with protecting commercial shipping routes from frequent Houthi rebel attacks originating in Yemen. The incident adds to a growing list of operational challenges the carrier has faced during its extended deployment.

While the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, early field reports suggest that a sudden movement of the carrierpossibly in response to nearby Houthi activity could have contributed to the mishap. However, this detail remains unconfirmed pending the results of the Navy’s official inquiry.

This is not the first high-profile incident involving the Harry S. Truman in recent months. Earlier this year, the carrier collided with a merchant vessel near the Suez Canal, leading to the dismissal of its commanding officer.

The carrier was originally scheduled to return home last month, but Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth extended its deployment due to ongoing instability in the region. The USS Carl Vinson was also dispatched to the area to reinforce U.S. military presence.

Despite the setback, Navy officials emphasize that no lives were lost in the mishap and that safety procedures prevented further harm.