What's happened
An F/A-18E Super Hornet fell off the USS Harry S. Truman into the Red Sea during evasive maneuvers against Houthi attacks. One sailor sustained minor injuries, and the incident is under investigation. The Truman continues operations against Houthi forces in Yemen, part of a broader military campaign initiated in March.
What's behind the headline?
Incident Overview
The incident involving the F/A-18E Super Hornet highlights the risks faced by military personnel during operations in hostile environments.
Operational Context
- The USS Truman is actively engaged in military operations against Houthi forces, which have escalated since March 15, 2025.
- The Houthi rebels have targeted U.S. naval assets, claiming solidarity with Gaza residents, which has led to increased military responses from the U.S.
Implications
- The loss of the aircraft, valued at approximately $60 million, raises questions about operational safety and equipment management under combat conditions.
- This incident is the second loss of an F/A-18 from the Truman in less than six months, indicating potential systemic issues in aircraft handling during high-stress situations.
Future Considerations
- The ongoing investigation will likely inform future operational protocols to enhance safety and prevent similar incidents.
- As military operations continue, the U.S. must balance aggressive tactics against the Houthis with the safety of its personnel and equipment.
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, the incident occurred as the USS Truman was maneuvering to avoid Houthi missile fire, leading to the loss of the F/A-18E Super Hornet. The Navy confirmed that the aircraft was being towed when control was lost, resulting in both the jet and the towing tractor falling overboard. The Guardian reported that sailors had to leap to safety, with one sustaining minor injuries. The Independent noted that this incident is part of a broader context of increased military operations against the Houthi rebels, who have been attacking U.S. naval vessels in the region. The New Arab highlighted that this is the second F/A-18 lost from the Truman in recent months, raising concerns about operational safety.
How we got here
The USS Harry S. Truman has been deployed in the Middle East for months, conducting airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The U.S. military's operations intensified in March 2025, following increased Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Go deeper
- What caused the F/A-18E to fall off the carrier?
- How has the Houthi conflict escalated recently?
- What are the implications of this incident for U.S. military operations?
Common question
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What caused the F/A-18E Super Hornet to fall from the USS Truman?
On April 28, 2025, an F/A-18E Super Hornet fell from the USS Harry S. Truman into the Red Sea during towing operations. This incident raises questions about the safety of military operations and the implications of ongoing conflicts in the region. Below, we explore the causes of this incident and its broader context.
More on these topics
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.
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USS Harry S. Truman is the eighth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, named after the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman. She is currently homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
Harry S.
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The Middle East is a transcontinental region that generally includes Western Asia, all of Egypt, Iran, and Turkey. Soviet Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are generally excluded.
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The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.
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The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.
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Peter Brian Hegseth (born June 6, 1980) is an American government official and former television personality who has served since 2025 as the 29th United States secretary of defense.
Hegseth studied politics at Princeton University, where he was the publi