US Navy Fighter Jet Lost at Sea After Sudden Turn to Evade Houthi Attack
EC News Desk
29/04/2025
Red Sea | A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet fell into the Red Sea after it accidentally slipped off the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman while being moved onboard. The incident happened as the carrier made a sudden, sharp turn to avoid a reported attack by Yemen’s Houthi.
According to the US Navy, the jet was being towed inside the hangar bay when the crew lost control. As a result, both the aircraft and the towing tractor went overboard. Thankfully, all personnel are safe, though one sailor received a minor injury.
A US official said the aircraft carrier had to perform a rapid zig-zag movement to evade missile or drone fire. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of an ongoing series of confrontations in the region. An investigation is underway.
The Navy confirmed the lost aircraft has sunk. Each F/A-18 fighter jet is valued at over $60 million. Despite the loss, the Truman Carrier Strike Group remains fully operational.
This is not the first time the carrier has been in the news. Earlier this year, it collided with a merchant ship near Egypt. In a separate incident in December, another F/A-18 from the Truman was mistakenly shot down by a US Navy cruiser. Both pilots survived.
Tensions in the Red Sea have intensified since the US Navy began protecting commercial ships from Houthi attacks, which the Houthi group says are in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Houthis recently warned that US airstrikes in Yemen, including one that reportedly hit a migrant prison, would lead to further retaliation.
