F-18 Fighter Jet Plunges Into the Red Sea From U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier: $70 Million Down

Red Sea / U.S. Navy
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jet, valued at approximately $70 million, fell into the Red Sea from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The incident occurred while the jet was being towed from the hangar bay to the flight deck.

According to the Navy, the aircraft was being moved with a tow tractor when the crew lost control, causing both the jet and the vehicle-along with two crew members-to fall overboard and sink. One sailor was inside the jet, the other on the tow tractor. Both managed to escape just in time. One of them sustained minor injuries.

The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation. The Navy is considering human error, technical malfunction, or even enemy fire as potential factors. The USS Truman has been patrolling the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. U.S. Defense officials told ABC News that a sudden movement of the carrier, possibly due to incoming Houthi fire, may have contributed to the incident, though this theory remains unconfirmed.

This is not the first incident involving the Truman. Earlier this year, the carrier collided with another ship, leading to the removal of its commanding officer. The U.S. Navy also recalls a similar event in 2022, when an F-35 crashed upon landing on the USS Carl Vinson, sliding off into the South China Sea and exploding on impact.

Recovery of the sunken F/A-18 is considered unlikely, as the Red Sea remains an active conflict zone.