Fighter plane slipped off the hangar deck of a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, with a minor injury
WASHINGTON (AP) — A F/A-18 fighter jet slipped from a hanger of an aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East as sailors dragged the plane to the Harry S. Truman's hangar bay on Monday, the Navy said.
The crew in the pilot seat of Super Hornet and on the small tow tractor jumped out before the jets and tugs entered the Red Sea. According to a defense official, the sailor who jumped out of the plane suffered minor injuries. Officials spoke on anonymously to discuss personnel details.
“The F/A-18E is actively towed in Hangar Bay when the crew loses control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow truck tractors are lost on the ship,” the Navy said in a statement. The jet is part of the strike fighter squadron 136.
Fighters are usually towed on the hangar deck to park it wherever they are needed for any flight operations or other work. It is unclear whether efforts will be made to recover the plane, and the cost is about $60 million. The incident is under investigation.
Truman has been deployed to the Middle East for several months and has recently been involved in strengthening military operations against the Hotty rebels in Yemen. The U.S. Central Command said the military strikes every day, which is carried out by fighter jets, bombers, ships and drones.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expanded the Truman deployment once for about a month.
