In a disturbing recurrence, an F/A-18 fighter jet plunged into the Red Sea on Tuesday after skidding off the flight deck of the USS Harry S. Truman, a second mishap involving the same aircraft carrier in just a week. As reported by two U.S. officials on condition of anonymity, the jet did not come to a proper stop after landing, which resulted in a dramatic plunge into the sea.
Both aviators on the jet managed to eject safely and were quickly rescued by helicopter. One official stated that the crew only suffered minor injuries and no flight deck personnel were injured. Medical assessments were carried out, and both aviators are reported to be in stable condition.
The U.S. Navy has not yet made an official statement on the incident, which was first reported by CNN and later confirmed by ABC News and NBC News.
The Harry S. Truman is currently in the region to back up U.S. military operations against Yemen’s Houthi fighters. Last week, another fighter jet was lost under similar circumstances on the same vessel, which has raised serious questions about procedural lapses or mechanical failures.
Each F/A-18 fighter jet is worth more than $60 million, and such accidents are very rare. The proximity in timing and nature of both events should prompt an internal investigation and increased attention to the carrier’s operational procedures and landing systems.
With the Navy still engaged in its vital missions in the Middle East, successive losses of multi-million-dollar jets may lead to a review of safety measures, equipment maintenance, and crew preparedness on U.S. aircraft carriers. With no official Navy response yet, many are wondering how such high-stakes mistakes could repeat so soon.
