US Navy Fighter Jet Falls Off Aircraft Carrier Into Red Sea

Web Desk: A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet accidentally slipped off the hangar deck of the USS Harry S. Truman and plunged into the Red Sea during a towing operation on Monday, the US Navy confirmed.

The incident occurred while sailors were maneuvering the jet inside the aircraft carrier’s hangar bay. As the crew lost control, both the aircraft and its small towing tractor went overboard. Fortunately, the pilot and the sailor operating the tug were able to escape before the fall. One sailor sustained a minor injury, according to the Navy.

“The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard,” the Navy stated. The jet belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron 136.

It remains unclear whether recovery efforts will be made for the jet, which carries an estimated value of $60 million. The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation.

Aircraft like the F/A-18 are regularly repositioned within the carrier for operational readiness or maintenance purposes.

The USS Harry S. Truman, deployed in the Middle East for several months, has recently been engaged in intensified military operations against Houthi forces. According to U.S. Central Command, daily strikes are being conducted using a combination of fighter jets, bombers, drones, and other naval assets.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already extended the carrier’s deployment by about a month due to ongoing tension in the region.