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RED SEA — In a troubling sequence of mishaps, the U.S. Navy has confirmed the loss of a second F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet from the USS Harry S. Truman in just over a week. The latest incident occurred Tuesday as the jet attempted a routine landing on the aircraft carrier’s deck—only for the arresting gear to catastrophically fail, sending the aircraft plunging into the Red Sea.
Both aviators aboard the twin-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11), ejected safely moments before the jet disappeared into the waves. A rescue helicopter quickly retrieved them from the water. Officials say both suffered minor injuries and are in stable condition.
The Navy has launched an immediate investigation into the incident, which marks the third Super Hornet lost during the Truman’s deployment and adds to a growing list of serious operational concerns aboard the carrier.
A Dangerous Pattern Emerges
This is not an isolated accident.
- April 28 Incident: Just nine days ago, another Super Hornet was lost under different circumstances. During deck operations aboard the Harry S. Truman, an F/A-18E and its towing tractor fell overboard. A sailor inside the cockpit managed a narrow escape, leaping out seconds before the jet toppled into the sea. The aircraft was undergoing routine towing operations when a mechanical error, possibly combined with poor coordination, led to the mishap.
- December 2024 Friendly Fire Incident: In a rare and alarming event, a Super Hornet from the Truman’s strike group was mistakenly shot down by the USS Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser escorting the carrier. The cruiser’s air defense system reportedly misidentified the jet as a threat. Both pilots ejected and survived, but the incident triggered a broader review of friend-or-foe identification systems aboard U.S. naval vessels.
- February 2025 Collision: The Harry S. Truman collided with a commercial vessel near Egypt during nighttime maneuvers. Although there were no casualties, the incident led to the removal of the ship’s commanding officer, citing “a failure in judgment and seamanship.”
With Tuesday’s accident, the Truman strike group has now lost three Super Hornets, each valued at approximately $60 million, in the span of just five months—an alarming rate even for high-tempo operations.
What Went Wrong?
Tuesday’s crash appears to have stemmed from a malfunction in the ship’s arresting gear—the system of cables and hydraulic machinery designed to bring landing aircraft to a halt. A failure of this magnitude suggests either mechanical fatigue, poor maintenance, or human error.
“The pilot did everything right. He was lined up and on approach. But when the hook hit the deck, the arrestment simply didn’t catch,” said a defense official familiar with preliminary details. “At that point, you have a few seconds before you’re off the edge. They ejected immediately.”
Sources say the aircraft sank quickly and has not been recovered. Navy salvage teams are assessing whether recovery operations are feasible, given the depth and conditions in the Red Sea.
Strategic Context: Red Sea Deployment and Rising Risk
The Harry S. Truman and its air wing are deployed in the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational effort to protect commercial shipping routes and counter Iran-backed Houthi threats from Yemen.
Since late 2023, Houthi forces have targeted both merchant vessels and U.S. naval assets using drones, cruise missiles, and small boat swarms. The Truman’s fighter jets have conducted multiple precision strikes on Houthi missile sites and radar installations in retaliation.
While no link has been confirmed between the recent mishaps and hostile activity, the high-stress environment and relentless operational tempo are taking a toll on both personnel and equipment.
“These jets are flying nearly nonstop sorties—day and night—in one of the most volatile maritime zones on Earth,” said retired Rear Adm. Tom Montgomery. “With that tempo, mistakes, mechanical wear, and mental fatigue compound.”
Navy Response and Damage Control
In response to the growing list of issues, Navy leadership is under increasing pressure to evaluate the readiness of both the Harry S. Truman and its supporting systems. Naval Air Forces has initiated a full investigation into the Tuesday crash, including forensic examination of the failed arresting system.
“The safety of our aircrews is our top priority,” a Navy spokesperson told reporters. “We are conducting a thorough review to ensure this does not happen again.”
The repeated losses have raised internal questions about the Truman’s flight deck safety protocols and aircraft maintenance schedules. Morale aboard the vessel has reportedly been shaken, with aviators voicing quiet concern over recent command decisions and deck operations.
Despite this, officials maintain that the Truman remains “fully mission capable” and will continue its operations in the Red Sea as planned.
Bigger Picture: Is the Fleet Overstretched?
The Navy’s latest misfortunes come at a time when the service is expanding its footprint across multiple global theaters—from deterrence in the South China Sea, to presence operations in the Mediterranean, to border security efforts at home.
Just this week, the Navy also announced the deployment of the USS Spruance, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, to the southern U.S. maritime border. The vessel joins ongoing operations to curb illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking via sea routes.
These deployments, while crucial, underscore a broader strategic question: Is the U.S. Navy being stretched too thin?
With carrier strike groups simultaneously tasked with high-end deterrence and homeland security, operational fatigue may be manifesting in unforced errors. Analysts suggest a reassessment of deployment tempo and maintenance cycles may be overdue.
What’s Next?
For now, all eyes are on the ongoing investigation. But with three jets lost and multiple near-disasters in less than half a year, the Harry S. Truman’s deployment has become a case study in modern naval risk management.
If nothing else, the incidents serve as a stark reminder: even the world’s most powerful navy is not immune to failure—and the cost of a single mistake can run into tens of millions.
Whether these are isolated blunders or symptoms of a deeper problem remains to be seen. Either way, the Red Sea just claimed another $60 million reminder that the margins for error at sea are razor thin.