Details remain very limited at this time, but CNN reports that another F/A-18 Super Hornet from the Supercarrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) has been lost. Two U.S. officials have confirmed to TWZ that the mishap did indeed occur.
CNN states that the jet crashed into the sea during its attempt to land. Both the pilot and the Weapon System Officer (WSO) were able to eject and were recovered by helicopter with only minor injuries. TWZ has confirmed that the arrestment failed on touch-down and the jet careened off the deck. MH-60 Seahawk squadron HSC-11 made the rescue and the F/A-18F Super Hornet was from VFA-11, the Red Rippers.
This is the second loss of a Super Hornet from the carrier — one of two operating in the region — in just a week. The other loss occurred while the vessel was evading a Houthi attack, with the Super Hornet rolling off the deck into the sea. Nobody was hurt in that incident, thankfully. A month and a half prior to this loss, on the same deployment, the Truman suffered a collision at sea that resulted in a change in the ship’s commanding officer. Not long before this mishap, another one of the carrier’s Super Hornets was accidentally shot down by a U.S. Navy cruiser assigned to the Truman Strike Group.
The USS Harry S. Truman has been deeply involved in a months-long intensified air campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. Those hostilities may have now come to an end as the White House declared an agreement with the extremist faction was reached to cease the exchange of fire. The deal would see the Houthis end their campaign against shipping in and around the Red Sea.
CNN also reports that the Houthis attacked the carrier today despite the deal, stating:
“Separately, the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group “took a shot” at the Truman on Tuesday, the four sources said, despite President Donald Trump announcing an apparent ceasefire with the group hours earlier. It is not clear whether the two incidents are related.”
TWZ has not been able to confirm this at the time of publishing.
We will update this post with additional info when we get it.
Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com