The United States Navy has confirmed the loss of a $60 million F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet after it fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier during an incident in the Red Sea.
The Navy reported that the aircraft was under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control. As a result, both the jet and the tow tractor were lost overboard. According to a statement issued on Monday, all personnel were accounted for, with only one sailor sustaining a minor injury.
A US official stated that the Harry S. Truman made a sharp manoeuvre to evade incoming fire from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, contributing to the incident. The rebels had earlier claimed responsibility for launching drone and missile attacks against the carrier, which is deployed in the region as part of ongoing operations against Iran-backed groups.
The Navy indicated that sailors involved in towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear before the jet fell into the sea. A subsequent investigation into the circumstances is underway. A second official confirmed that the aircraft has since sunk.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, a key asset of the US Navy’s carrier air wings, costs in excess of $60 million. It is used for a variety of roles, including air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, and close air support.
The Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is among the world’s largest warships, measuring almost 1,100 feet in length and displacing nearly 100,000 tons. Despite its size, it is highly manoeuvrable, capable of speeds exceeding 34 miles per hour, powered by two nuclear reactors driving four propeller shafts.
Former US Navy captain Carl Schuster explained that in the event of a missile attack, aircraft carriers typically employ a series of sharp alternating turns, known as the “zig-zag” tactic, to make targeting by incoming missiles more difficult. According to Schuster, these turns, typically between 30 and 40 degrees, start sharply and cause the ship to lean 10 to 15 degrees into the turn, displacing it by up to 200 yards from an enemy’s intended aim point.
The US Department of Defense has published images showing Nimitz-class carriers, including the Harry S. Truman, taking on a significant list during high-speed rudder checks and manoeuvres.
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group remains deployed in the Middle East and was operating in the Red Sea at the time of the incident. The Navy emphasised that the strike group and its air wing continue to be “fully mission capable” despite the loss of the aircraft.
The carrier group has been a repeated target of Houthi attacks since the US Navy began efforts to intercept rebel forces aiming to disrupt commercial shipping lanes to Israel, following the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza in October 2023.
The Harry S. Truman has been involved in several notable incidents in recent months. In February, it collided with a merchant vessel near Egypt. Though no injuries were reported, the incident highlighted the risks associated with operating in contested waters. In December, another F/A-18 from the Truman was mistakenly shot down by the cruiser USS Gettysburg during operations in the Red Sea. On that occasion, both pilots ejected safely and were recovered.
Other US Navy vessels in the region have similarly faced hostilities. In early 2024, a US destroyer narrowly avoided impact from a Houthi-fired cruise missile in the Red Sea, employing its Phalanx Close-In Weapon System in the final seconds before potential impact.
Tensions have escalated as the United States has increased its airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. In response, Houthi leaders have threatened to intensify attacks against American naval assets.
The Houthi-controlled armed forces issued a statement earlier this month, reiterating their intention to continue operations against US targets until Israel’s military actions in Gaza cease and the siege is lifted. They described US actions as “aggression” and warned that it would lead to “further targeting, engagement, and confrontation.”
On Monday, the Houthis alleged that a US airstrike had hit a prison housing African migrants, resulting in significant casualties. The US military has not yet commented on the claim.
The situation in the Red Sea remains tense, with the strategic waterway critical to global trade routes and regional stability.
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