A $60 Million Jet Gone: The USS Truman's Red Sea Mishap

The USS Truman, a massive aircraft carrier, recently faced an unexpected challenge in the Red Sea. A costly F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet slipped off the deck and into the water. This jet was being moved around the deck by sailors. The incident happened while the carrier was on a mission in the Middle East. The jet was being towed when it suddenly went overboard. This happened because the carrier made a sharp turn. The turn was to avoid attacks from Houthi rebels based in Yemen. The sailors who were moving the jet quickly jumped out. One of them got a minor injury, but everyone is okay. The Navy is looking into what happened. The jet was part of a special squadron. These jets are often moved around the deck for different tasks. It is not clear if the Navy will try to get the jet back. Each F/A-18E costs over $60 million. That is a lot of money for a single jet. The USS Truman has been in the Middle East for a while. It has been part of increased military actions against the Houthis. These actions include daily strikes by various military equipment. The Truman's mission was already extended by about a month. This shows how important its role is in the region. The Truman is a powerful ship. It is the ninth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the U. S. Navy. It was launched in 1996 and can travel fast. The ship can carry about 90 aircraft and has a crew of over 6, 000 people. Despite this recent incident, the Navy says the Truman and its air wing are still fully operational. The Truman has had other incidents recently. In February, it collided with a merchant ship. There were no injuries or flooding reported. The captain at the time was later removed from his position. This shows that even the most advanced ships can face challenges. The loss of the jet raises questions. How did this happen? Why was the carrier turning sharply? These questions need answers. The Navy's investigation will provide more details. Until then, the Truman continues its mission in the Middle East.