A $67 million F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed into the Red Sea on Tuesday after failing to land on the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, a US defense official said Wednesday. Both aviators ejected safely and sustained only minor injuries.The incident occurred when the jet failed to catch the arresting wire, the system used to stop landing aircraft, and went overboard. This is the second such mishap involving the Truman in just over a week.On April 28, another F/A-18E jet was lost overboard when towing crews lost control while maneuvering it in the hangar. A sailor and a tow tractor were also involved in that accident. Additionally, late last year, another jet was mistakenly shot down by the USS Gettysburg cruiser during operations off the Truman. In February, the carrier itself collided with a merchant vessel near Egypt’s Port Said.The USS Truman is one of two US aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East amid ongoing airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Seven MQ-9 Reaper drones have also been lost in the region since March 15.On Tuesday, President Trump announced that the Huthis had agreed to cease attacks on ships in the Red Sea, prompting the US to halt its strikes. Oman later confirmed a ceasefire agreement had been reached between the two sides.
