A $60 million fighter jet has been “lost” at sea at a moment American naval assets under US Central Command have been conducting bombing campaigns against Yemen’s Houthis since March 15.
But as far as what’s being reported from the Pentagon, the jet wasn’t shot out of the sky during operations – it apparently rolled off an aircraft carrier.
The US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet “fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier while it was being towed on board, the Navy said in a statement on Monday,” CNN reports.
Initial reports strongly suggest the mishap was caused due to the Truman carrier having to take sudden evasive action to avoid inbound Houthi fire:
A US official said that initial reports from the scene indicated that the Truman made a hard turn to evade Houthi fire, which contributed to the fighter jet falling overboard. The Houthi rebel group claimed on Monday to have launched a drone and missile attack on the aircraft carrier, which is in the Red Sea as part of the US military’s major anti-Houthi operation.
A naval crew member had been able to jump off the jet at the last minute when the accident occurred as it was being towed out of the hanger bay. One sailor reportedly sustained minor injury.
The Houthis said Monday they launched a fresh attack targeting the Truman carrier, following many other such claimed attacks. This appears to be the first time the US Navy has linked damage aboard a warship with an inbound Houthi assault (albeit somewhat indirectly). A prior incident involving ‘friendly fire’ against a US jet also resulted in the aircraft’s loss (see below).
Also read: Houthis Claim Attacks On Two US Aircraft Carrier Groups Off Yemen
