Egypt Daily News – The U.S. Navy is investigating an incident in which an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet fell into the Red Sea from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, reportedly during evasive maneuvers to avoid Houthi militant fire. The jet, along with the vehicle towing it, was lost overboard as the crew lost control during a standard deck operation on Monday.
According to a Navy statement, the jet was being repositioned in the carrier’s hangar bay when the towing crew lost control, causing both the aircraft and tow tractor to plunge into the sea. Quick-thinking crew members, including those in the pilot seat and on the towing vehicle, jumped out just in time. One sailor sustained minor injuries, but all other personnel were reported safe.
Unnamed U.S. officials said that the Harry S. Truman may have been performing a zigzag maneuver, used by naval vessels to avoid missile fire at the time of the accident. The ship has been operating in the Red Sea as part of ongoing U.S. military efforts to counter Houthi attacks on international shipping routes.
The Truman, which has been deployed in the Middle East for several months, is one of two U.S. carriers in the region conducting near-daily strikes on Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen. These strikes come in response to escalating threats to maritime navigation in the Red Sea.
The accident marks the second loss of an F/A-18 from the Truman in less than six months. Last year, another Super Hornet was mistakenly shot down by the USS Gettysburg in a separate incident.
The F/A-18E Super Hornet, built by Boeing and valued at approximately $67 million, has been a core component of the U.S. Navy’s air fleet since 2001. The aircraft lost on Monday belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron 136.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in the region. Earlier this week, at least 68 African migrants were killed in a strike on a shelter in Saada Province, Yemen, which the Houthi group claimed was carried out by U.S. forces. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV quoted civil defense sources stating that 47 others were injured in what they labeled a U.S. attack on a shelter for illegal migrants.
The U.S. has not confirmed responsibility for the Saada strike, but the incident adds to growing scrutiny of American operations in the area. The Navy has promised a full investigation into the Super Hornet mishap as operations continue in one of the world’s most volatile maritime zones.
