Wafric News – May 7, 2025

The U.S. Navy has suffered the loss of another F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet in the Red Sea, marking the second such incident involving the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in just over a week, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The latest crash reportedly occurred during a botched landing attempt on the carrier. According to two sources, the jet experienced what appears to have been an arrestment failure—meaning it was unable to stop safely on the flight deck. The pilot and weapons systems officer were forced to eject and were later rescued by a Navy helicopter. Both aviators survived with minor injuries.

The aircraft, valued at over $60 million, sank into the Red Sea and has not yet been recovered, sources confirmed.

While the U.S. Navy has yet to issue a full statement, the Office of the Secretary of Defense referred inquiries to the Navy and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Investigations are currently ongoing.

This latest incident follows a string of troubling events involving the Truman and its air wing during its current deployment to the Red Sea—an area that has become increasingly volatile due to frequent attacks on naval and commercial vessels by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

On the same day as the jet crash, the Truman reportedly came under fire from Houthi forces, despite a ceasefire announcement made earlier by former President Donald Trump. It remains unclear whether the attack is connected to the jet’s failed landing.

This is not the first setback for the Truman on this deployment. Just a week earlier, another F/A-18 fell into the sea under similar circumstances after the carrier allegedly made a hard evasive maneuver to avoid Houthi missile fire. And in December 2024, a separate fighter jet from the Truman was mistakenly fired upon by the USS Gettysburg—another U.S. Navy ship operating in the area—leading to another crash into the sea. Both crew members ejected safely in that case.

The Truman’s troubled mission also saw a high-profile leadership change earlier this year. In February, the carrier collided with a merchant vessel near Egypt in the Mediterranean. Following that incident, the ship’s commander at the time, Captain Dave Snowden, was relieved of duty and replaced by Captain Christopher Hill.

U.S. Navy operations in the Red Sea have faced increasing threats since the Houthis began targeting commercial and military vessels in late 2023. In one close call earlier this year, a U.S. destroyer had to use its last-resort Phalanx missile defense system to stop a cruise missile that came within a mile of impact.

With another jet lost and persistent regional instability, questions are mounting about both the strategic challenges and operational readiness of U.S. naval forces in one of the world’s most contested maritime regions.


By WafricNews Desk.