US Navy Loses $60 Million Fighter Jet in Red Sea Incident

The US Navy has lost a $60 million F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet after it accidentally fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman during towing operations, officials confirmed Monday.

According to initial reports, the aircraft carrier had to make a sudden hard turn to evade incoming fire from Houthi rebels, which likely contributed to the mishap. The incident occurred in the Red Sea, where the Harry S. Truman is currently deployed as part of a major US military operation against Houthi forces.

All sailors aboard were accounted for, though one suffered a minor injury during the event.

In a statement, the Navy explained that the jet was being moved inside the ship’s hangar bay when the crew lost control. Both the aircraft and the tow tractor plunged into the sea. Sailors towing the plane quickly took action to clear the area before it went overboard, the Navy said. An investigation is now underway.

A second official confirmed to CNN that the Super Hornet has sunk. Each F/A-18E Super Hornet carries a hefty price tag, with the Navy estimating the cost at over $60 million.

Despite the loss, Navy officials emphasized that the Truman Carrier Strike Group and its air wing remain fully mission capable.

The Harry S. Truman has had a rough deployment in the Middle East. In addition to frequent attacks from Iran-backed Houthis, the carrier made headlines in February when it collided with a merchant ship near Egypt — though no injuries were reported. In another incident last December, a different F/A-18 from the Truman was mistakenly shot down by the USS Gettysburg during an exercise in the Red Sea. Thankfully, both pilots ejected safely.