The U.S. Navy reported a serious incident aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman on April 28, 2025, in the Red Sea. The F/A-18E Super Hornet, along with the tractor used to move it, went overboard, injuring one U.S. sailor. The incident occurred during operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of ​​responsibility, where the carrier is supporting military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. The Navy has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident, which has raised concerns about the safety of operations amid heightened tensions in the region.

The F/A-18E, assigned to VFA-136, was moving around the carrier when it and its tractor slid overboard, the Navy said. One sailor was injured, but the Navy did not disclose the severity of the injuries or the injured person’s condition, citing confidentiality. The incident occurred in the northern Red Sea, where the USS Harry S. Truman has been conducting strikes on Houthi targets, including weapons depots and command centers, in response to the group’s attacks on international shipping lanes. The Navy confirmed the aircraft and tractor were lost, and efforts to recover them are underway, though the Red Sea’s depth and intensive operations make recovery difficult.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has played a key role in the region since arriving in the 5th Fleet area in December 2024. Equipped with advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets, it has become a key tool for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations against the Iranian-backed Houthis. These operations intensified in March 2025 after the Houthis resumed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, which they describe as solidarity with the Palestinians amid Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The carrier’s air wing, including VFA-136, has carried out strikes against Houthi missile and drone sites in Sanaa and Hodeida.

This is not the first incident involving the USS Harry S. Truman in recent months. In December 2024, the cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the carrier during a drone intercept mission. Both pilots ejected, and one suffered minor injuries. The recurrence of such incidents has sparked discussions about the strain on crews and equipment in the face of persistent threats from the Houthis, including drones and missiles. For example, on March 16, 2025, U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft, including F/A-18s from Truman, intercepted 11 Houthi drones and a ballistic missile aimed at a carrier group without causing damage to the ships.

The loss of the F/A-18E, worth about $70 million, and the tractor is a major material loss. The Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft used for air-to-air combat, ground attack, and reconnaissance. Its loss, along with the sailor’s injury, highlights the risks crews face in the Red Sea, where 12% of the world’s maritime trade passes. The Houthis have repeatedly claimed attacks on the Truman, including an April 18, 2025, incident involving missiles and drones that U.S. officials called inconclusive, recording no hits.