Context:

For the second time in eight days, a US F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet has fallen off the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier into the Red Sea, prompting an investigation into the incident. During an attempted landing, a failed maneuver caused the aircraft to go overboard, with both pilots safely ejecting and sustaining only minor injuries. This follows a previous incident where another Super Hornet was lost when it went overboard while being towed in the hangar bay, resulting in minor injuries to a sailor and the loss of a towing tractor. The latest incident may have been influenced by a sharp turn taken by the carrier during evasive actions against Houthi militants in Yemen, amidst a wider context of US military and political maneuvers in the region. The Truman has experienced multiple mishaps during its deployment, including a mistaken shootdown of an F/A-18 jet by the USS Gettysburg last December, highlighting ongoing operational challenges in the area.

Dive Deeper:

• A US F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet fell from the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier into the Red Sea after a failed landing attempt, marking the second such incident in just over a week.

• Both pilots of the jet safely ejected and were rescued by a helicopter, sustaining only minor injuries, while the aircraft, worth tens of millions, remains unrecovered.

• The previous week, another Super Hornet was lost in a separate incident when it was accidentally towed overboard in the hangar bay, causing minor injuries to a sailor and the loss of towing equipment.

• The recent incident involved a failure of the arrestment system, possibly exacerbated by the carrier's sharp evasive maneuvers in response to Houthi militant threats in Yemen.

• President Donald Trump had earlier announced a halt to US attacks on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, contingent on the cessation of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.

• The Truman's deployment has been marked by several incidents, including a December mishap where the USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down another F/A-18 jet, though the pilots survived.

• These incidents underscore the operational risks and complexities faced by US naval forces operating in the geopolitically sensitive Red Sea region.