Second US Fighter Jet Falls into Red Sea from USS Truman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A second US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet has plunged into the Red Sea from the USS Harry S. Truman in less than two weeks, raising questions over flight deck safety aboard the deployed aircraft carrier.
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 11 went overboard on Tuesday around 9:45 p.m. local time, US officials confirmed.
The aircraft reportedly failed to catch the arresting wire during landing, resulting in what is known as a "failed arrestment."
Both aviators ejected before impact and were recovered by a rescue helicopter with minor injuries.
Sources told NBC News that initial indications point to a tail hook malfunction that prevented the jet from stopping in time.
This marks the second multimillion-dollar aircraft lost from the Truman in recent days.
On April 28, another F/A-18 slipped from the hangar deck while being towed, also falling into the Red Sea.
A sailor in the cockpit at the time managed to escape moments before the jet went overboard.
The US Navy said the move crew lost control of the aircraft, and one sailor sustained minor injuries.
A defense official noted that it is standard for a crew member to be in the cockpit during towing to manage braking or steering if necessary.
Fighter jets are routinely repositioned in the hangar deck for flight operations or maintenance.
The earlier incident involved a jet from Strike Fighter Squadron 136, and it remains unclear whether recovery operations will be attempted.
The USS Truman has been operating in the Middle East for months and recently intensified military action against Yemen.
US Central Command said daily strikes have been carried out using jets, bombers, drones, and naval vessels.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously extended the Truman's deployment by about a month.
Last month, US airstrikes in Sanaa killed at least eight people, according to Yemeni officials.
