The U.S. Navy has confirmed that an F/A-18E Tremendous Hornet — considered one of America’s premier fighter jets — fell off the united statesHarry S. Truman (CVN 75) and sank into the Purple Sea on Monday, April 28.
In line with the official report, the $70 million plane from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, together with the tow tractor shifting it, plunged overboard whereas the service operated in one of many world’s most strategically vital waterways.
Each personnel managed to leap clear in time, with just one sustaining a minor damage, in response to officers.
“The F/A-18E was actively beneath tow within the hangar bay when the transfer crew misplaced management of the plane. The plane and tow tractor had been misplaced overboard,” the Navy mentioned in an announcement.
It continued, “Sailors towing the plane took quick motion to maneuver away from the plane earlier than it fell overboard. An investigation is underway.”
Extra from ABC:
Officers mentioned current Houthi assaults directed on the ship had nothing to do with the jet mistakenly rolling off the ship
The Truman service was concerned in one other incident earlier this yr when it collided with a service provider ship close to the Suez Canal. Its commanding officer was subsequently fired.
The service was slated to come back dwelling final month, however Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth prolonged its deployment whereas ordering one other service — the united statesCarl Vinson — to the area to bolster army energy.
