The US military has suffered another loss of one of its expensive fighter jets in its operations against the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. According to media reports, a US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed from the deck of the aircraft carrier "USS Harry S. Truman" on Monday during a drone and missile attack by the Houthi rebels.
The incident reportedly occurred when the aircraft carrier initiated an evasive maneuver. The fighter jet reportedly rolled off the deck during a towing operation and crashed into the sea. The towing vehicle also fell overboard, and a sailor suffered minor injuries. It is currently unclear whether the F/A-18E can be recovered.
This loss comes just months after a similar incident in December, in which a US missile cruiser accidentally shot down one of its own F/A-18E aircraft. This aircraft, too, had launched from the USS Harry S. Truman. The pilots were able to eject using the ejection seat. These recent events once again raise questions about the risks and challenges of military operations in the Red Sea in light of the threat posed by the Houthi rebels.
The Houthi rebels, active in Yemen and supported by Iran, have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea in recent months, significantly disrupting shipping in one of the world's most important trade routes. The US Navy maintains a presence in the region to protect commercial shipping and respond to rebel attacks. The loss of another fighter jet represents a significant material loss for the US armed forces and underscores the intensity of the conflict in the region.
and 