Navy Jet Lost Overboard as US Warship Dodges Houthi Missile Threat

US Navy Jet Plunges Into Red Sea During Evasive Maneuvers

U.S. sailors were forced to jump for their lives after a fighter jet fell off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman during reported evasive maneuvers in the Red Sea on Monday.

The incident occurred when an F/A-18E Super Hornet, along with the vehicle towing it across the hangar deck, rolled overboard into the sea. According to Navy officials, the aircraft was being repositioned when the crew lost control of it.

Unnamed U.S. sources told CNN the carrier was executing a zigzag motion—standard procedure to avoid incoming missile fire—likely from Yemen’s Houthi militants. These sharp maneuvers can cause the vessel to tilt, making operations on deck hazardous.

Both the service member in the cockpit and the one operating the towing tractor managed to escape before the jet and vehicle plunged into the water. No injuries were reported.

The aircraft belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron 136. The U.S. Navy confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway, and a formal report on the ship’s movements is expected.

The USS Harry S. Truman has been stationed in the Middle East for several months and recently had its deployment extended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It is one of two U.S. carriers operating in the region amid ongoing strikes against Houthi positions, utilizing a combination of jets, bombers, ships, and drones.

This marks the second Super Hornet loss from the Truman’s fleet in six months. In late 2024, another F/A-18 was accidentally shot down by the USS Gettysburg during a misidentification incident.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet was lost at sea on Monday after it rolled off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman during reported evasive maneuvers to avoid Houthi missile fire in the Red Sea. The incident forced crew members to leap to safety moments before the jet and its towing vehicle plunged into the water.

According to a statement from the U.S. Navy, the aircraft was being towed inside the ship’s hangar bay when control was lost. As the carrier executed sharp zigzag maneuvers—standard defensive tactics to evade potential missile threats—the sudden motion caused the jet and the towing tractor to slide across the deck and off the edge.

CNN reported, citing unnamed officials, that the USS Harry S. Truman was responding to incoming fire from Houthi militants in Yemen. These evasive actions, while necessary for defense, can result in dangerous deck conditions as the ship heels over from side to side.

The two sailors involved—one in the cockpit of the Super Hornet and the other operating the tow tractor—managed to jump clear in time and were recovered safely. No injuries have been reported.

The downed aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 136, one of the units currently supporting U.S. operations in the region. The Navy has launched an official investigation into the mishap, and a detailed account of the carrier’s maneuvers is expected soon.

The USS Harry S. Truman has been deployed in the Middle East for several months amid heightened tensions in the region. Its mission, recently extended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, involves routine air strikes and surveillance operations aimed at disrupting Houthi capabilities. U.S. forces are engaging the militant group daily using aircraft, naval vessels, and drones.

This is the second Super Hornet lost from the Truman’s complement in less than six months. In a separate incident in late 2024, an F/A-18 was mistakenly shot down by the USS Gettysburg during a misidentification error.

The rising operational risks highlight the ongoing challenges faced by U.S. forces navigating an increasingly volatile Red Sea region, where escalating conflict and high-tempo operations continue to test the limits of naval logistics and crew safet