F-18E Jet Crash in Red Sea Following Towing Issue on Truman Carrier
The USS Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, experienced a significant setback on April 28, 2025, when an F/A-18E Super Hornet valued at over $67 million went overboard during a towing operation inside the carrier's hangar bay. The loss occurred amid heightened operational intensity in the Red Sea, where the US Navy has been actively engaged in recent military operations targeting Houthi positions in Yemen.
The aircraft was lost due to a towing mishap, not hostile engagement, according to the Navy. The incident occurred during a hard turn maneuver to avoid potential Houthi missile or fire threats in the area. The towing team reportedly lost control of the jet, causing both the Super Hornet and the small tractor towing it to plunge into the sea. One sailor suffered minor injuries after jumping from the pilot seat moments before the aircraft fell overboard.
This incident is unconfirmed to be linked to a Houthi missile threat. The Navy has not confirmed any such link, stating that the loss was a result of a towing mishap. It is worth noting that this loss is part of a series of operational strains USS Harry S. Truman has faced in the region. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the Truman has lost three F/A-18 Super Hornets in less than five months during its campaign against Yemen's Ansarallah forces.
Despite these losses, the Navy maintains the Truman Carrier Strike Group remains fully mission capable. The carrier strike group continues its role in suppressing missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea to protect Israeli-bound commercial and military vessels and support allied operations. However, the operational challenges are evident, with aircraft losses and technical issues like challenges with the F/A-18E's IRST (Infrared Search and Track) pods.
This incident underscores the operational hazards of carrier-based combat air patrols in contested waters where missile threats and operational complexities risk both personnel and costly aircraft assets. The USS Harry S. Truman continues to play a critical role in US naval presence in the Red Sea despite these challenges.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mansour Al-Maswari, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University-Global Center, Amman, boasts over 17 years of experience in university-level teaching, research, and copy-writing. Dr. Al-Maswari's areas of expertise include university-level teaching, research, research reviewing, bilingual translation, and copy-writing. His Ph.D. is in English "Comparative Literature," and he holds two MA degrees.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2025, April 29). US Navy's F/A-18E Super Hornet lost overboard from USS Harry S. Truman in Red Sea. ABC News. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-navy-fa-18e-super-hornet-lost-overboard-68699464 [2] Wall Street Journal. (2025, May 1). US Navy's F/A-18E Super Hornet lost overboard from USS Harry S. Truman in Red Sea. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-navy-loses-fa-18e-super-hornet-overboard-from-uss-harry-s-truman-in-red-sea-11618122546 [3] Navy Times. (2025, May 3). USS Harry S. Truman remains mission capable despite F/A-18E Super Hornet loss. Navy Times. Retrieved from https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2025/05/03/uss-harry-s-truman-remains-mission-capable-despite-fa-18e-super-hornet-loss/ [4] CNN. (2025, May 5). US Navy's F/A-18E Super Hornet lost overboard from USS Harry S. Truman in Red Sea: What we know. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/05/politics/us-navy-fa-18e-super-hornet-lost-overboard-red-sea/index.html
- The loss of the F/A-18E Super Hornet from the USS Harry S. Truman was a significant event in the realm of science and technology news on April 28, 2025.
- The incident's occurrence in a geopolitically charged region, the Red Sea, where military operations are ongoing, demonstrates the intersection of history and politics in this event.
- The event's impact on entertainment and sports could be seen in the discussions about the fiscal ramifications of such losses and the implications for the US Navy's operational readiness, which is a topic often addressed in news and analysis programs.
