U.S. Navy Loses $60-M Jet At Sea After It Fell From Aircraft Carrier

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was lost at sea after it fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier while being towed onboard, the Navy said in a statement, CNN reporters Haley Britzky, Natasha Bertrand, and Brad Lendon reported.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed that they had launched a drone and missile attack on the aircraft carrier. I Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe/Released

According to a U.S. official, initial reports suggested the Truman made a hard turn to evade Houthi rebel fire, which contributed to the jet falling overboard.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed that they had launched a drone and missile attack on the aircraft carrier, which is operating in the Red Sea as part of a major U.S. military operation against the Iran-backed group.

All personnel aboard were accounted for, and only one sailor sustained a minor injury.

“The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard,” the Navy’s statement read.

“Sailors towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear before it fell overboard. An investigation is underway.”

A second U.S. official told CNN the aircraft has sunk. Each F/A-18 fighter jet costs more than $60 million, according to the Navy.