The Truman has lost another F/A-18 fighter jet as it floats around the Red Sea. The most recent loss included a tow tractor that was attached to the aircraft during a movement in the hangar bay. A U.S. official reported that the aircraft and tug were lost as a result of the USS Truman taking evasive action to dodge incoming fire from Houthi fighters based in Yemen. The ship has been stationed in the Red Sea to help mitigate conflict in the region since 2024. Crew members were able to safely escape and avoid falling overboard. But as the F/A-18E Super Hornet is not waterproof, it was lost to the sea.

Fighter Aircraft are designed for air to air and air to ground combat operations and support. Unfortunately, they are not designed for air-to-sea landings. This recently has been the operation of F-18s on the USS Truman and so, the United States Navy has lost three. 

The Red Sea has been playing a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos against the US Navy with F-18’s as the little white balls. 

Earlier this year, another F-18 fell from the carrier and met the same unfortunate end that’s…starting to become a trend? Although not lost to a dive overboard, another F/A-18E assigned to the Truman was shot out of the sky by US NAVAL FORCES in the region. 

We get it, the Navy wants more F-35s, but is this really the way to get them? Thankfully, not a single member of the Navy has lost life or limb to the incidents but someone is definitely getting chewed out.

Read more about the recent losses here (we did):

Author: Nathan LaVoie