An F/A-18E fighter jet crashes from the deck of the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier into the sea

An American F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet has crashed into the sea along with a tractor during an operation in the Red Sea. The incident occurred on board the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which is taking part in a mission against the Houthis.

Here's What We Know

According to the US Navy, the incident occurred while the fighter jet was being towed across the deck. For unspecified reasons, the aircraft broke off and fell overboard along with the tractor. The crew managed to evacuate, although one of the sailors was slightly injured. The fighter belonged to the 136th Strike Fighter Squadron.

The USS Harry S. Truman is taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea, which aims to protect civilian shipping from attacks by Houthi militants. The aircraft carrier has already lost deck aircraft during this mission: in particular, at the end of 2024, the USS Gettysburg missile cruiser accidentally shot down an F/A-18F while flying over the sea. And in February, the aircraft carrier collided with a cargo ship, which also damaged the ship.

Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to attack maritime targets, and the US campaign, which began on President Trump's orders, has not achieved the desired result. According to US intelligence, the six-week wave of airstrikes has had little impact on the militants' ability to continue their attacks.

In particular, the rebels have already shot down at least seven MQ-9 Reaper strategic drones, which has significantly complicated the implementation of the second phase of the US operation, which was supposed to focus on reconnaissance and the destruction of the Houthi leadership. In recent months, the rebel group has improved its methods of detecting and defeating drones, which calls into question the effectiveness of the US air strategy in the region.

Source: US NAVY