U.S. Navy $67 Million Fighter Jet Lost at Sea After Falling from Aircraft Carrier

The U.S. Navy has initiated an investigation following the loss of a $67 million fighter jet at sea during operations in the Middle East. An F/A-18E Super Hornet, being towed by a tractor, fell off the deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry Truman into the Red Sea on Monday.

The Navy’s Chief of Information office based in Bahrain confirmed the incident. Fortunately, one sailor sustained a minor injury, but all other crew members were unharmed. The crew had to act swiftly to avoid the falling aircraft.

According to the Navy’s statement, the F/A-18E was under tow in the hangar bay when control was lost. Immediate actions were taken by the sailors to clear the area, and an investigation into the incident is now underway. Typically, fighter jets are towed around the hangar deck for proper parking during flight operations or other duties.

While the Navy did not specify the exact circumstances of how the plane fell, Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching several missiles toward U.S. warships, including the Truman, shortly after the incident. The rebels stated that they will continue targeting the aircraft carrier and other enemy vessels in the region until actions against Yemen cease. The Houthi statement came as a response to a U.S. airstrike on a prison housing African migrants, which allegedly resulted in numerous casualties.

The U.S.S. Harry Truman has faced increasing hostility from Houthi forces amid ongoing U.S. military operations against Houthi targets. Despite this incident, the Navy emphasized that its air squadrons in the vicinity remain fully mission capable.

The Super Hornet, manufactured by Boeing, has been a staple of the U.S. military since 2001, and each aircraft is valued at approximately $67 million. The U.S.S. Harry Truman, a nuclear-powered carrier, is over 1,000 feet long and is capable of carrying up to 85 aircraft.