Another F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet from the USS Harry S. Truman has crashed into the Red Sea, marking the second such incident from the aircraft carrier in just over a week, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, but two sources indicated the incident involved an arresting gear failure while the aircraft was attempting to land. Both the pilot and the weapons systems officer ejected and were rescued by a helicopter. They suffered only minor injuries.
The jet sank into the sea and has not been recovered, according to those familiar with the event.
Separately, the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group reportedly fired at the Truman on Tuesday, despite a ceasefire having been announced earlier that day by President Donald Trump. It remains unclear whether the attempted strike and the jet crash are connected.
The Department of Defense has directed all questions regarding the incident to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Central Command.
This is the second F/A-18 lost from the Truman in a short span. A week earlier, another Super Hornet fell overboard after the carrier made a sudden maneuver to evade Houthi missile fire, according to initial reports. Each F/A-18 costs more than $60 million.
U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea have faced repeated attacks from Houthi forces since November 2023. In one instance in early 2024, a U.S. destroyer had to engage its last line of missile defense to stop a Houthi cruise missile that came within a mile of impact.
The Truman’s deployment in the region has been troubled. In December, an F/A-18 operating from the carrier was accidentally fired upon by the USS Gettysburg and crashed, though both crew members ejected safely. In February, the carrier collided with a merchant ship near Egypt. That incident led to the removal of then-commanding officer Captain Dave Snowden. He was replaced by Captain Christopher Hill.
