The Red Sea, a hotspot of tensions and military patrols, was the scene of a bizarre and unexpected event involving the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. An F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet, with an estimated value of around $70 million, fell into the sea during a towing operation. The aircraft, along with the tractor used for the movement, sank without leaving any trace on the surface.
The jet was being transported out of the hangar when, according to Navy sources, those in charge of the operation lost control of the tow. Based on what officials reported, two crew members – one aboard the jet and the other in the towing vehicle – reportedly managed to escape safely.
The incident occurred at an already critical time for the USS Harry S. Truman, which has been operating in the area since last September to ensure the security of commercial shipping routes threatened by attacks from Houthi rebels. It is not yet clear whether the operational context played a role in the accident. U.S. sources indicated that a sudden movement of the ship – possibly caused by enemy fire – may have contributed to the loss of control, though such information remains unconfirmed for now.
The episode comes just months after another mishap involving the same aircraft carrier, which collided with a merchant vessel near the Suez Canal. The Truman’s commanding officer was subsequently relieved of duty, marking a serious precedent for the flagship.
Although the aircraft carrier had been scheduled to return last month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth decided to extend its deployment in the region, also ordering the dispatch of a second carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to bolster the U.S. military presence in the area.
The Super Hornet lost at sea is just one of the many fighter jets in service with the United States Navy. Currently, the naval forces operate approximately 540 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, distributed across various active carriers. For the last fiscal year alone, the Department of Defense allocated over $1.2 billion for the maintenance and procurement of new aircraft for Naval Aviation.
The incident thus represents not only a tactical loss but also a significant economic setback at a time of heightened operational tension. The investigation now underway will need to determine whether the cause was human error, technical failure, or a side effect of an increasingly unstable geopolitical context.
