A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 and a tow tractor were lost overboard from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) while operating in the Red Sea on April 28, 2025.
“The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft,” the US Navy said in a statement. “The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard.”
Sailors towing the F/A-18E reacted quickly and moved clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard. The US Navy has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the loss.
The risks of evasive maneuvers in naval operations
According to a US official cited by CNN, initial reports indicate that the aircraft carrier made a hard turn to evade incoming Houthi fire, which contributed to the incident. Earlier the same day, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching a drone and missile attack targeting the Truman carrier group.
Warships can perform rapid evasive maneuvers when facing incoming threats such as missiles, drones, or artillery fire. These high-speed turns, changes in speed, and unpredictable movements are designed to confuse or disrupt the targeting systems of enemy weapons. While such maneuvers can be highly effective in increasing a ship’s survivability, they also pose risks to onboard operations.
This is the second F/A-18 to be lost during the Truman Carrier Strike Group’s deployment in the region. In December 2024, an F/A-18 Super Hornet was mistakenly shot down by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg in an “apparent case of friendly fire” while operating over the Red Sea. Both pilots survived.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier has been operating in the 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility since December 2024, supporting efforts to contain the Houthi insurgency. It briefly departed the region to undergo repairs in Greece following a collision with a merchant vessel, but has since returned to the Red Sea.
Operation Rough Rider: Ongoing US air campaign in Yemen
The loss of the F/A-18E comes amid an intensified US military campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen. This campaign, known as Operation Rough Rider, aims to deter Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes and US naval vessels.
Since November 2023, Houthi rebels have launched multiple anti-ship missiles and “kamikaze” drones against both military and commercial targets transiting the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. These attacks have disrupted international commerce, with an estimated 12% of global trade passing through the affected region.
Some of the closest footage we have gotten so far of the strikes by the U.S. Air Force and Navy against the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa Oil Port in Western Yemen on April 17th, filmed by Turkish sailors onboard an oil tanker off the coast of the Red Sea. pic.twitter.com/5o1ugpiTar
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 28, 2025
According to US Central Command (USCENTCOM), the US military has conducted over 800 airstrikes targeting Houthi military infrastructure since March 15, 2025, including missile launch sites and command centers.
