An F/A-18E Falls Overboard from USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea
An F/A-18E and a tow tractor fall overboard amid operations in the Red Sea.
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The United States Navy has reported the loss of an F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 in the Red Sea on April 28, following an incident aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The accident, which also involved the loss of a tow tractor, occurred while the flagship of the Carrier Strike Group was conducting routine operations in the region. All crew members involved were accounted for, with only one sailor sustaining a minor injury.
According to the official statement, the F/A-18E was being towed inside the main hangar when the towing crew lost control of the aircraft, resulting in both the jet and the tow tractor falling overboard. The quick actions of the operators prevented serious injuries, although the material loss represents a significant operational incident.
The U.S. Navy has launched a formal investigation to determine the exact causes of the accident. Meanwhile, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and its embarked air wing remain fully mission capable, with no reported operational impact.
The CSG is composed of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 1, three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 28, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64). Its presence in the Red Sea is part of ongoing maritime security operations in a strategically critical region, where the group has conducted significant military actions against Houthi infrastructure in Yemen.
The loss of a current-generation combat aircraft, even while not in flight, underscores the inherent operational risks of deck and hangar maneuvers aboard active aircraft carriers. The F/A-18E Super Hornet, the backbone of U.S. carrier-based naval aviation, represents a high-value asset both tactically and economically.
The outcome of the investigation may lead to revisions of towing procedures or the implementation of additional safety measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
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