Navy fighter plane goes overboard in Red Sea
Two U.S. Navy pilots encountered a harrowing situation on Tuesday when they were forced to eject from their F/A-18F Super Hornet while attempting to land on an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. This incident marked the second time in a week that such an event had occurred, according to Department of Defense officials.
The aircraft, belonging to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, was in the process of landing on the USS Harry S. Truman when the arrestment system failed, leading to the plane going overboard. Both pilots managed to safely eject from the plane, but unfortunately, the $67.4 million aircraft was lost at sea and has yet to be recovered.
Fortunately, the pilots only sustained minor injuries and were promptly attended to by medical personnel. No flight deck personnel were harmed during the incident. This mishap came just over a week after another F/A-18F Super Hornet had gone overboard on the USS Truman.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Navy reported that the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, which includes a coalition of U.S. warships deployed to the Red Sea, remained fully operational. The strike group consists of the Truman aircraft carrier, nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 1, three guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron 28, and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg.
The USS Harry S. Truman has been actively involved in launching airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen. President Trump recently announced a ceasefire with the Houthi group, signaling a potential shift in the ongoing conflict in the region.
Overall, while the loss of the aircraft is a significant setback, the safety of the pilots and the continued operational capability of the carrier strike group are paramount. The Navy will undoubtedly conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine the cause and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
