An F/A-18E Super Hornet and its tow tractor were lost overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) while operating in the Red Sea on Monday, the U.S. Navy said.
According to a Navy news release, the aircraft, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, was being towed inside the carrier’s hangar bay when the move crew lost control, causing both the jet and the tow vehicle to fall into the sea.
A U.S. official told CNN that a Houthi projectile prompted the USS Harry S. Truman to make an abrupt evasive turn, which contributed to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet falling overboard into the sea. Navy officials have not confirmed this detail.
The loss of the fighter jet, valued at approximately $60 million, follows Monday’s claim by the Houthi rebel group that it had launched a drone and missile attack on the aircraft carrier, which is currently operating in the Red Sea as part of the U.S. military’s broader campaign against Houthi forces. This was not confirmed by the U.S.
According to the Navy, an investigation into the loss of the aircraft is underway. No additional equipment was reported lost.
Despite the accident, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and its embarked air wing remain fully mission capable, according to the Navy.
The strike group consists of the flagship Harry S. Truman, the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 1, three guided-missile destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 28, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64).
Houthi forces, backed by Iran, have significantly escalated their attacks on U.S. military assets in the Red Sea in recent months. In response, the U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the region and carried out airstrikes in Yemen aimed at Houthi infrastructure and leadership.
The U.S. has stated that operations will persist until Houthi forces cease their attacks and threats against international maritime traffic.
