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A $60 million US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was lost in the Red Sea after it fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, the US Navy said on Monday. The incident occurred when the carrier was performing a sharp manoeuvre to avoid a missile launched by the Houthis, coinciding with Houthi claims that the ship was attacked by drones and missiles.
This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
According to the Navy, the aircraft was in a hangar bay during a tow when the crew lost control of it. The statement reads: “The F/A-18E was being towed in a hangar bay when the team lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and the towing truck fell overboard.” One sailor who was in the cockpit suffered minor injuries when he jumped out of the plane before it crashed, the official told CNN. The sailors who were towing the plane managed to move away to avoid danger. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
Former US Navy captain Carl Shuster told CNN that aircraft carriers often use zigzag tactics to avoid missile attacks. “Usually a series of alternating 30-40 degree turns are performed. Each turn lasts about 30 seconds, but it starts abruptly. It’s like driving a car that zigzags,” he said. During this manoeuvre, the ship tilts 10-15 degrees, which can move it 100-200 yards from the likely point of aim if the ship is travelling at top speed.
The Houthis, who control part of Yemen, have announced an attack on the USS Harry S. Truman as part of their campaign against shipping in the Red Sea. The incident highlights growing tensions in the region, where US forces face regular threats from Iranian-backed Houthis.
