Another US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet jet has plunged into the Red Sea while attempting to land on the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, marking the second such incident involving the carrier in just over a week, according to US officials cited by CNN.
The twin-seat F/A-18F fighter jet suffered what officials described as a “failed arrestment” during a nighttime landing around 8:45 pm (local time) on Tuesday. According to NBC News, the jet’s tail hook failed to catch the arresting wire on the carrier deck, causing the aircraft to overshoot the runway and crash into the sea.
The pilot and the weapons systems officer ejected safely and were recovered by a rescue helicopter. They sustained only minor injuries, officials confirmed.
The jet, which cost the Navy more than $60 million, has not yet been recovered. The incident remains under investigation, and both the Navy and US Central Command have declined to comment on specifics.
This latest crash follows a similar mishap just eight days earlier, when another Super Hornet was lost from the Truman. In that incident, as reported by NBC News, the aircraft was being towed in the hangar bay when the crew lost control of it, causing it and the tow tractor to fall overboard on April 28.
Tuesday's crash occurred on the same day that Iran-backed Houthi rebels “took a shot” at the Truman, despite US President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement of a ceasefire with the group.
It remains unclear whether there is any connection between the attack and the jet crash. The Office of the secretary of defense referred all queries to the Navy and CENTCOM.
This brings the total to four major mishaps involving the Truman in recent months.
According to ABC News, the carrier was mistakenly involved in a friendly fire incident last December when another jet operating from the Truman was shot down by the USS Gettysburg. Both aviators safely ejected in that case as well.
Then in February, the Truman collided with a merchant vessel near Port Said, Egypt, which led to the dismissal of its then-commanding officer, Captain Dave Snowden. Captain Christopher Hill subsequently assumed command.
The Truman has been operating in the Red Sea since late 2023, deployed to protect shipping lanes amid frequent missile and drone attacks by Houthi rebels. Its deployment was supposed to end last month, but defence secretary Pete Hegseth extended its mission and ordered the USS Carl Vinson to the region as reinforcement, reported ABC News.
Trump announced Tuesday that the US would halt airstrikes against the Houthis, claiming they had agreed to stand down. However, according to ABC News, a senior Houthi official denied any immediate agreement, saying the group needed more time to evaluate the proposed ceasefire.
The twin-seat F/A-18F fighter jet suffered what officials described as a “failed arrestment” during a nighttime landing around 8:45 pm (local time) on Tuesday. According to NBC News, the jet’s tail hook failed to catch the arresting wire on the carrier deck, causing the aircraft to overshoot the runway and crash into the sea.
The pilot and the weapons systems officer ejected safely and were recovered by a rescue helicopter. They sustained only minor injuries, officials confirmed.
The jet, which cost the Navy more than $60 million, has not yet been recovered. The incident remains under investigation, and both the Navy and US Central Command have declined to comment on specifics.
This latest crash follows a similar mishap just eight days earlier, when another Super Hornet was lost from the Truman. In that incident, as reported by NBC News, the aircraft was being towed in the hangar bay when the crew lost control of it, causing it and the tow tractor to fall overboard on April 28.
Tuesday's crash occurred on the same day that Iran-backed Houthi rebels “took a shot” at the Truman, despite US President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement of a ceasefire with the group.
It remains unclear whether there is any connection between the attack and the jet crash. The Office of the secretary of defense referred all queries to the Navy and CENTCOM.
This brings the total to four major mishaps involving the Truman in recent months.
According to ABC News, the carrier was mistakenly involved in a friendly fire incident last December when another jet operating from the Truman was shot down by the USS Gettysburg. Both aviators safely ejected in that case as well.
Then in February, the Truman collided with a merchant vessel near Port Said, Egypt, which led to the dismissal of its then-commanding officer, Captain Dave Snowden. Captain Christopher Hill subsequently assumed command.
The Truman has been operating in the Red Sea since late 2023, deployed to protect shipping lanes amid frequent missile and drone attacks by Houthi rebels. Its deployment was supposed to end last month, but defence secretary Pete Hegseth extended its mission and ordered the USS Carl Vinson to the region as reinforcement, reported ABC News.
Trump announced Tuesday that the US would halt airstrikes against the Houthis, claiming they had agreed to stand down. However, according to ABC News, a senior Houthi official denied any immediate agreement, saying the group needed more time to evaluate the proposed ceasefire.
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