Two fighter jets fall in the Red Sea in the space of a few days. Here are the details.
A series of incidents
Two fighter jets, an F/A-18F Super Hornet and an F/A-18E Super Hornet, were recently lost in the Red Sea while operating from the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Truman, as part of a series of worrying incidents on the heels of operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The aircraft carrier is facing a series of unusual incidents involving aircraft crashing into the sea, against a backdrop of tense military operations.
On the deck
On April 28, an F/A-18E Super Hornet was lost at sea while being towed onto the deck of the aircraft carrier, reports CNN.
An attack
While the USS Harry S. Truman was the target of a Houthi missile and drone attack, a sudden evasive maneuver by the tractor towing the fighter caused the aircraft and vehicle to fall into the sea, causing minor injuries to a crew member.
The stop system
On May 6, just a few days later, another fighter jet fell into the sea from the carrier, this time due to a failure of undetermined origin.this time, it was due to a failure of undetermined origin, which prevented the stop system from functioning correctly during the landing of an F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Pilots had to eject
This second incident also resulted in minor injuries, as both pilots had to eject before the aircraft hit the water, also reports the Washington Post.
Friendly fire
In December, an F/A-18F was accidentally hit by an SM-2 missile fired from the cruiser USS Gettysburg, a member of the same battle group as the Truman. Both pilots survived. In February, the USS Truman collided with a freighter near the Suez Canal, causing a breach above the waterline. The ship's captain was relieved of his command.
Operational safety
The loss of three fighter jets in less than six months, combined with a collision at sea and a firing incident, raises questions about the safety of operations aboard the Truman. These events come against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Red Sea, where US forces were engaged in complex and dangerous operations.