A U.S. military aircraft plunges into the Red Sea from an aircraft carrier.
A Pricey F/A-18E Takes an Unplanned Dip
In an unexpected turn of events, the USS Harry S. Truman witnessed, on April 28, 2025, a whopping $67 million contraption, a F/A-18E Super Hornet, slipping off the ship and plunging into the Red Sea.
The Naval aviation team tasked with guiding the jet in transit through the hangar bay, unfortunately, lost control of the aircraft. The Navy confirmed the incident in a statement, stating, "The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard." Sailors, quick on their feet, expeditiously moved away from the falling aircraft, averting a more catastrophic scenario, albeit one sailor incurred minor injuries.
As the carrier and its remaining aircraft continue their missions, the Navy launched an investigation into the incident. Regrettably, no information regarding the recovery plan has been disclosed to the public.
This unfortunate happening marks the second F/A-18 incident in less than six months for the USS Harry S. Truman. Last year, another jet was accidentally downed by the USS Gettysburg guided missile cruiser — an incident fortunately survivable by both pilots.
The USS Harry S. Truman is one of the two active US aircraft carriers in the Middle East, where US forces have been relentlessly attacking Yemen's Huthi rebels since mid-March with an intent to curb the threat they pose to shipping in the region.
Remember, incidents like these underscore the inherent risks associated with carrier operations. Previous examples, such as a 2022 weather-related loss in the Mediterranean, underscore the ongoing operational challenges facing the Navy.
Insights:The incident occurred in the hangar bay of the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea on April 28, 2025. The primary cause appears to be the crew's loss of control while towing the F/A-18E Super Hornet, leading to both the aircraft and the tow tractor falling overboard [1][3]. Investigations are ongoing to determine the specific reasons behind the loss of control [2][3]. The exact cost of the jet is variously reported at around $60 million [3] and higher figures that might include ancillary equipment [1]. No immediate plans for recovery have been announced [1][3].
[1] Navy Times (2025). "F/A-18E overboard from USS Harry S. Truman, report says." [online] Available at: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2025/04/29/fa-18e-onboard-uss-harry-s-truman-reportedly-lost-overboard/
[2] US News (2025). "US Navy Investigates F/A-18E Loss Overboard from USS Harry S. Truman." [online] Available at: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-04-28/us-navy-investigates-fa-18e-loss-overboard-from-uss-harry-s-truman
[3] CNN (2025). "F/A-18E Super Hornet lost overboard from USS Harry S. Truman." [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/28/politics/navy-fa18e-super-hornet-lost-overboard/index.html
- The Naval aviation team onboard the USS Harry S. Truman was towing a F/A-18E Super Hornet in the hangar bay when they lost control, causing the aircraft and tow tractor to fall overboard in 2025.
- The incident, classified under general news and accidents, resulted in a sailor sustaining minor injuries.
- Despite the loss of the $67 million F/A-18E Super Hornet, the USS Harry S. Truman continues its missions in 2025, while the Navy launches an investigation to comprehend the specific reasons behind the team's loss of control.
