U.S. Navy Fighter Jet Lost Overboard After USS Truman Dodges Houthi Attack

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was lost at sea on Monday after falling overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman while it was being towed inside the carrier's hangar bay.

The incident occurred as the Truman made a hard turn to avoid incoming fire from Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, reports said citing a U.S. official. The Houthis had earlier claimed responsibility for launching a missile and drone attack on the Truman, which is deployed as part of the U.S. military’s ongoing operations against the Iran-backed group.

"The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard," the Navy said. "Sailors towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear before it fell overboard. An investigation is underway."

All personnel aboard the carrier were accounted for, with one sailor sustaining minor injuries.

The Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is capable of rapid and agile maneuvers despite its size of nearly 1,100 feet and displacement of about 100,000 tons. Powered by two nuclear reactors, it can reach speeds exceeding 34 miles per hour. Specific details of Monday’s evasive maneuver have not been disclosed, but Defense Department images show that such carriers can sharply list during high-speed turns.

The lost Super Hornet, valued at more than $60 million, has reportedly sunk. The incident adds to the mounting costs of the U.S. military campaign against the Houthis. In recent months, the rebels have shot down multiple U.S. MQ-9 drones, each worth over $20 million, as part of their broader campaign against U.S. and allied shipping in the Red Sea.

The Truman Carrier Strike Group remains fully mission capable despite the loss, the Navy said. It continues operations in the Red Sea alongside other U.S. warships, which have been frequently targeted by Houthi attacks. In one recent case, a U.S. destroyer had to use its close-in defense system to intercept a Houthi-fired missile just a mile from impact.

The conflict escalated after the U.S. Navy intervened to protect commercial shipping bound for Israel in the wake of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. In response, the Houthis have increased missile and drone attacks on U.S. forces, leading the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) to launch Operation Rough Rider.

The Truman aircraft carrier has faced other incidents recently, including a collision with a merchant vessel near Egypt earlier this year and a December 2024 incident where another F/A-18 from the carrier was mistakenly shot down by the cruiser USS Gettysburg. No fatalities were reported in either event.

The Pentagon has also deployed B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia, placing them within striking distance of Iran, which continues to support the Houthis with drones, ballistic missiles, and small arms.

In a separate development, the Houthis on Monday accused the U.S. of an airstrike that allegedly hit a prison holding African migrants, causing dozens of deaths. The U.S. military has not issued a comment on the claim.

The Houthis have vowed to continue attacks until Israel halts its Gaza operations, with the group saying U.S. strikes would "only lead to further targeting, engagement, and confrontation."