A second F/A-18 Super Hornet was lost from the USS Harry S. Truman amid mechanical failure, Houthi threats, and operational mishaps, showcasing the region’s volatility.
On Tuesday evening, the United States Navy confirmed that a Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet carrier-based fighter was lost in the Red Sea. The jet operated from the nuclear-powered Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Harry S. Truman.
While the details are still unclear, it is the second fighter to be lost from the warship in just over a week.
CNN cited two sources familiar with the matter who stated that there was an issue with the aircraft’s arrestment system, which is needed to slow the fighter when it lands on the flight deck. The jet crashed into the Red Sea, while both the pilot and Weapons System Officer (WSO) were able to eject from the twin-seat Super Hornet safely, and were recovered by helicopter.
The loss of the Super Hornet follows another that fell off the warship while being towed to the hangar. It reportedly occurred while the carrier endeavored to avoid a Houthi attack.
The Iranian-back militant group, which controls swaths of Yemen, has carried out repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region as well as commercial shipping since the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) launched its operation into Gaza following the Hamas terrorist attacks on southern Israel in early October 2023.
The U.S. Navy has kept up a near-constant presence of carriers and guided-missile cruisers in the region in response to the Houthis’ strikes on shipping and Israel. USS Harry S. Truman first arrived in the area in November 2024, and its deployment has seen a few mishaps.
Yet another F/A-18 Super Hornet was lost in December, after it was shot down in a friendly fire incident, with another warship mistaking the aircraft for an enemy threat. After completing a resupply mission in Crete, the carrier collided with a cargo vessel in February.
The USS Harry S. Truman took minor damage and needed to return to the U.S. Navy facility at Souda Bay, Greece, for emergency repairs. Captain Dave Snowden was subsequently relieved of duty.
A Possible Ceasefire with the Houthis Before the F/A-18 Super Hornet Loss
President Donald Trump had announced earlier in the day, hours before the loss of the Super Hornet, that the U.S. had reached an agreement with the Houthis, in which the group said it would stop targeting commercial shipping and in exchange the U.S. military would stop its bombing campaign of Yemen.
“We will honor that, and we will stop the bombings,” Trump said from the Oval Office while meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday afternoon.
“They have capitulated, but more importantly, we will take their word… they say they will not be blowing up ships anymore.”
U.S. officials have confirmed that the U.S. Navy has issued a stand-down order, and no attacks have been carried out on the militant group.
However, the group did announce it would continue to target Israel in support of Hamas, while CNN also reported that missiles were launched at USS Harry S. Truman. It is unclear if that was related to the loss of the Super Hornet. A Houthi missile penetrated Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system and struck near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday.
This is a developing story.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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