The United States Navy lost an F/A-18F Super Hornet in the Red Sea on May 6 following a failed landing attempt aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. This incident is the second fighter aircraft accident to occur in the past eight days involving the carrier.
The aircraft’s arresting gear malfunctioned during landing, resulting in the $60 million jet being ejected overboard. An incident ensued. Only minor injuries were sustained by both pilots, who ejected safely.
The incident occurred subsequent to a previous mishap on April 28, during which an additional Super Hornet perished while conducting evasive maneuvers in response to a threat from Houthi militants. In December, an aircraft from the same carrier group was mistakenly shoot down by friendly fire in a separate incident.
The Truman has been deployed in the Red Sea since late 2024, with the primary objective of preventing regional threats, particularly those emanating from Iran-backed Houthi forces. The agreement’s efficacy was called into question by reports of ongoing hostilities, despite the ceasefire that President Donald Trump proclaimed on the same day as the most recent crash.
Following the consecutive high-value aircraft losses, the Navy has initiated a formal investigation into the causes of the most recent accident and is currently evaluating the operational procedures and maintenance protocols aboard the Truman.