Another US warplane has plunged into the Red Sea after a failed landing attempt on the USS Harry S. Truman, marking the second such accident involving the same aircraft carrier in just over a week.
The U.S. Central Command reported that the aircraft involved in the latest incident was an F/A-18F Super Hornet—a twin-engine, two-seat fighter jet valued at around $67 million.
According to officials, the warplane attempted to land on the carrier but could not be stopped properly due to a problem during arrestment.
A defense official noted that the aircraft’s tailhook, which is designed to catch the arresting cable on the flight deck, missed its target. “The arrestment failed, causing the aircraft to go overboard,” the official stated.
Fortunately, both aviators onboard the jet were able to eject safely and were promptly rescued by a search and rescue helicopter. Medical teams later assessed the pilots and determined they had only minor injuries. No other crew members were harmed during the incident.
This marks the second Super Hornet lost from the Harry S. Truman in a matter of days. On April 28, another F/A-18 was accidentally pulled into the sea during a mishap that also injured a sailor and sent a towing tractor into the water along with the jet.
These back-to-back losses follow a similar incident from late last year. During that episode, another F/A-18 operating off the Truman was mistakenly shot down by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg. Both aviators in that case also survived.
The Harry S. Truman is one of two U.S. aircraft carriers currently deployed in the Middle East. American forces aboard these carriers have been conducting airstrikes against Yemen’s Huthi rebels since mid-March, targeting threats to commercial and naval vessels in the region.
