US Fighter Jet Plunges Into Sea from Aircraft Carrier

Details of the Incident

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet unexpectedly slid off the deck of an aircraft carrier and submerged in the Red Sea, as per Monday's announcement from the Navy.

At the time, one service member was inside the aircraft, and another was in the towing vehicle when the unfortunate event unfolded.

Fortunately, both individuals evacuated in time, with only minor injuries reported for one of them.

Towing Mishap Leads to Loss

Attributed to a human error, the jet valued at $70 million was being moved out of the hangar on the USS Harry S. Truman when control was lost, leading both the jet and tow vehicle to tumble into the ocean.

"While relocating the F/A-18E within the hangar bay, the handling team lost control, resulting in the jet and the towing equipment going overboard," the Navy confirmed in a statement.

Ongoing Investigations and Context

Quick actions were undertaken by those moving the aircraft to ensure safety before it fell. Currently, an inquiry is underway to understand the full details.

The USS Harry S. Truman has been stationed in the Red Sea since September to safeguard commercial vessels from ongoing Houthi insurgent attacks out of Yemen.

Authorities confirmed that recent attacks by the Houthi group are unrelated to this incident.

Previous Encounters and Deployment Updates

Earlier this year, the USS Harry S. Truman was in a separate incident when it collided with a merchant ship near the Suez Canal, an incident that led to the dismissal of its commanding officer.

While the Truman was slated to return recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth extended its mission, with orders also deploying the USS Carl Vinson to reinforce the U.S. military presence in the area.