US Fighter Jet Vanishes After Plunging Off Aircraft Carrier in the Red Sea, Navy Reports

A fighter jet has gone missing in the Red Sea after it slipped into the water from an aircraft carrier while being transported on the hangar deck, according to statements made by the U.S. Navy.

On April 28, the F/A-18E Super Hornet slipped from the USS Harry S. Truman while sailors were moving it towards the hangar bay, as reported by the source. Navy The team had lost control of the aircraft, which crashed into the Red Sea together with the tow tractor.

The sailors who were pulling the jet promptly moved away from the aircraft before it collapsed, according to a Navy statement. Everyone was present and accounted for, although one sailor received a slight injury.

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Initially, the cause of the loss of control over the aircraft by the crew members remained unclear. The Navy announced that they had initiated an investigation into the incident.

The aircraft was allocated to Strike Fighter Squadron 136. As per the Naval Air Systems Command, an F/A-18 fighter jet may have a price tag of around $60 million.

The event took place when the Truman Carrier Strike Group was operational in the Middle East. For several months, the aircraft carrier has been active in this area and has assisted with attacks on Iran-supported Houthi militants in Yemen.

"The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group along with the deployed air wing remains entirely prepared for missions," stated the Navy in a release.

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Carrier may have veered to evade Houthi fire

U.S. authorities informed multiple media organizations that preliminary accounts from the location indicate the carrier swerved to dodge attacks initiated by the Houthis, as reported. ABC News , CNN , Politico and Reuters.

A U.S. official informed Reuters that early reports indicated the USS Truman abruptly changed course due to what appeared to be a Houthi assault nearby. However, it remained uncertain if this maneuver led to the aircraft falling into the sea.

ABC News reported that officials stated the early reports were still not verified.

Earlier on April 28, the Houthis claimed in a statement that they had attacked the aircraft carrier along with its accompanying warships. They justified this action by referring to alleged U.S. atrocities against civilians. This isn’t the first time the carrier has faced such attacks from the Houthis.

The Houthi-controlled media outlet announced on April 28 that they believed a U.S. airstrikes were behind an incident. touched upon a prison housing African migrants In Yemen, the assault resulted in at least 68 fatalities and 47 injuries. This incident ranks as one of the most lethal attacks during the past six weeks targeting the Houthis.

President Donald Trump has intensified military operations Against the Houthis, this includes airstrikes on a fuel depot along the Red Sea coast in early April, which resulted in at least 74 fatalities. Government authorities have vowed to keep targeting Houthi positions until the faction ceases its assaults on vessels navigating the Red Sea.

U.S. Central Command On April 27, they announced that their forces had targeted over 800 locations since the commencement of Operation Rough Rider in Yemen on March 15. According to Central Command, these attacks resulted in the deaths of “hundreds of Houthi fighters along with several Houthi leadership figures.”

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Most recent event concerning USS Harry S. Truman

USA TODAY mentioned in early April that the Pentagon had extended the Truman’s deployment In the Middle East for an additional month. The Pentagon additionally dispatched a second fleet and deployed extra fighter jets to the area.

In February, the Truman crashed into a cargo vessel. In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea close to Egypt, no injuries were noted at that moment.

The Navy subsequently dismissed Captain Dave Snowden In December 2023, Rear Admiral Sean Bailey assumed command of the Truman. According to reports, he relieved Snowden of his duties due to a "loss of confidence in (Snowden's) capability to lead" following the collision involving the Truman. a Navy release .

In December 2024, Central Command issued a statement indicating that they had accidentally shot down one of their own fighter jets over the Red Sea, which led to both pilots being forced to eject. According to Central Command, the incident was an apparent example of friendly fire; however, both pilots were recovered safely—one sustaining only slight injuries.

The aircraft involved was an F/A-18 Hornet operating from the Truman. According to Central Command, one of the carrier’s protective vessels, the guided-missile cruiser Gettysburg, accidentally discharged upon and struck the plane.

Contributors: Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Davis Winkie from USA TODAY; Reuters

The article initially appeared on USA TODAY: A US fighter jet has gone missing after it fell off an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, according to the Navy.