The U.S. Navy has lost an F/A-18 Super Hornet in the Red Sea for the second time in just over a week. The latest incident occurred on Tuesday during a landing attempt on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, according to four individuals with direct knowledge of the situation who spoke with CNN.
The twin-engine fighter jet reportedly encountered difficulties while attempting to land on the carrier. As a result, both the pilot and the weapons officer were forced to eject from the aircraft.
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Fortunately, a Navy rescue helicopter swiftly recovered both individuals, who sustained only minor injuries. However, the Super Hornet sank into the Red Sea and has not yet been recovered.
The U.S. Navy has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the mishap. Two of the sources familiar with the incident indicated that the issues encountered during the landing were likely related to the arresting gear system on the USS Harry S. Truman. This critical system utilizes cables stretched across the flight deck to rapidly decelerate and stop landing aircraft.
The loss of the aircraft occurred mere hours after reports surfaced of Iran-backed Houthi rebels firing towards the USS Harry S. Truman.
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This incident occurred despite President Donald Trump having announced earlier that a ceasefire was in effect in the region.
At this time, it remains unclear whether there is any connection between the attempted attack on the carrier and the subsequent landing malfunction.
This latest loss marks the second F/A-18 Super Hornet to be lost by the U.S. Navy in the Red Sea in a short period. Just over a week prior, another Super Hornet went down under circumstances that have yet to be fully disclosed.
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