US warplane crashes into Red Sea during failed landing on USS Truman

Another F/A-18 Super Hornet lost in second incident from aircraft carrier amid rising regional tensions.

An F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet lands on the deck of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Photo by Andreas Solaro/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

A US F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed into the Red Sea while attempting to land on the USS Harry S. Truman, a defense official confirmed on Wednesday. This incident marks the second time in just over a week that a fighter jet has been lost from the aircraft carrier, intensifying concerns over operational safety and regional instability.

The $67 million twin-seat Super Hornet plunged into the sea on Tuesday after a landing mishap involving the aircraft's tailhook and arresting gear system. These mechanisms are designed to safely stop aircraft upon landing on the narrow deck of a carrier. In this case, however, the “arrestment failed,” the official stated, causing the warplane to slide off the edge of the deck and into the water.

Both aviators aboard the aircraft managed to eject safely and were quickly recovered by Navy personnel. According to the official, they sustained only minor injuries and are expected to make a full recovery.

A pattern of costly losses from the Truman

This is not the first time the USS Truman has lost an F/A-18 in recent days. On April 28, a similar F/A-18E Super Hornet was lost when a mishap occurred during a routine hangar tow. The crew lost control of the plane, causing it to fall off the deck and into the sea. That accident also resulted in the loss of a tow tractor and left one sailor with minor injuries.

Even more troubling is the broader pattern of incidents involving the Truman. Late last year, another F/A-18 was unintentionally shot down by the USS Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser operating in tandem with the Truman. The incident was reportedly the result of a misidentification during a live-fire drill. Both pilots from that aircraft were able to eject safely and were rescued.

In February, the carrier itself was involved in a maritime collision when it struck a merchant ship near Egypt's Port Said, causing minor damage to the vessel. These repeated setbacks have raised questions about crew readiness and procedural rigor aboard one of the Navy’s most important assets deployed in the Middle East.

With the F/A-18F Super Hornet priced at approximately $67 million, the back-to-back losses amount to more than $130 million in equipment lost within just nine days. This does not include the additional cost of the tow tractor and associated repairs from the earlier incident. The cumulative impact is significant, especially considering the increased demand for air operations in the region.

Adding to the burden, a US official disclosed last week that seven MQ-9 Reaper drones—each worth around $30 million—have been downed in the Yemen area since March 15. These losses have severely affected intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities in a theater already stretched thin by complex operations.

The USS Harry S. Truman is one of two American aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East, a region increasingly shaped by conflict and instability. Since mid-March, the US has launched a series of airstrikes against Huthi rebels in Yemen. These rebels, backed by Iran, began targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in late 2023. The attacks were framed by the Huthis as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, which has faced heavy bombardment from Israeli forces following a surprise Hamas assault in October 2023.

The US began retaliating with strikes on Huthi positions in early 2024 under President Joe Biden. However, under the administration of President Donald Trump—who returned to office following the 2024 election—the intensity and frequency of strikes increased dramatically. Since March 15, the US military has carried out near-daily attacks on rebel infrastructure and weaponry, reportedly leaving at least 300 people dead, according to figures provided by the Huthis and compiled by AFP.

On Tuesday, President Trump announced a breakthrough in the conflict, stating that the Huthi rebels had agreed to stop their attacks on commercial vessels. In response, he said, the United States would suspend its own strikes.

“They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore,” Trump told reporters. The announcement was later echoed by Oman, a key regional mediator, which confirmed that both sides had agreed to a ceasefire arrangement.

While the ceasefire is seen as a welcome pause in the hostilities, questions remain about its durability, especially given the history of broken truces in the region. Nevertheless, the development has offered a glimmer of hope for shipping companies and regional powers concerned about the long-term security of vital maritime corridors.

The repeated losses from the Truman and the simultaneous escalation of military activity in the Middle East point to the intense operational pressures faced by the US Navy. Carrier strike groups are the linchpin of American maritime dominance, and any degradation in their capabilities—whether through equipment loss or reduced readiness—has strategic ramifications.

Moreover, with the Truman engaged in high-stakes operations in the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean, the margin for error is slim. Each mishap not only impacts mission effectiveness but also carries a high political and economic cost.

The Navy has not yet announced whether the crashed F/A-18F will be recovered, but the priority remains the safety of personnel and the continued execution of critical missions. Investigations into both recent incidents are ongoing, and adjustments to operational procedures are expected.

The future of the Truman’s deployment could be shaped by how the Navy addresses the recent string of failures. Increased scrutiny from Congress, tighter safety protocols, and perhaps a reassessment of deployment timelines may follow.

At the same time, the declared ceasefire with the Huthi rebels may ease the immediate operational tempo in the region, providing a window for regrouping and re-evaluation. Still, given the volatile nature of regional dynamics, the USS Truman and its air wing are likely to remain on high alert.

For now, the focus remains on ensuring no further losses occur—and that America’s military posture in the Red Sea remains as formidable and precise as it is intended to be.