On Tuesday, a U.S. fighter jet, specifically an F/A-18F Super Hornet, fell off the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier into the Red Sea, marking the second such incident in eight days. The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. local time when the aircraft failed to catch the landing wire, resulting in a “failed arrestment.” Fortunately, both aviators on board ejected safely with only minor injuries.
This incident follows a similar mishap on April 28, when another Super Hornet fell into the sea while being towed on the carrier. The U.S. Navy reported that the tow tractor lost control of the $67 million F/A-18E during that operation. The Navy Chief of Information’s office in Bahrain confirmed both incidents and noted that investigations are currently underway to determine the causes.
In the latest event, officials indicated that the failed arrestment occurred when the F/A-18F’s tail hook did not secure on the wire meant to slow the aircraft upon landing, leading to it accelerating towards the ship’s bow before plummeting into the water. As investigations continue, no further details have been released regarding specific measures the Navy may take to prevent such occurrences in the future. The recent events highlight ongoing challenges with carrier operations, raising concerns about aircraft safety measures during landings and tows.
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