Second US Navy jet is lost at sea from Truman aircraft carrier

[highplainsdem]

Source: CNN

Another F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier has been lost in the Red Sea, the second jet lost from the carrier in just over a week, four people familiar with the matter told CNN.

It is not entirely clear what happened yet, as the investigation is ongoing, but two of the people said there was some kind of arrestment failure as the jet was trying to land on the carrier and the pilot and weapons systems officer had to eject. They were recovered by a rescue helicopter and are both alive, but they suffered minor injuries, one of the people said.

The jet crashed into the sea and has not been recovered, two of the people familiar with the incident said.

Separately, the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group “took a shot” at the Truman on Tuesday, the four sources said, despite President Donald Trump announcing an apparent ceasefire with the group hours earlier. It is not clear whether the two incidents are related.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/politics/second-us-navy-jet-is-lost-at-sea

[SheltieLover]

1. Wth?

[Martin68]

2. Well gee, Captain, it was here a minute ago. I just can't for the life of me remember where we put it.

Maybe the cat got it.

[groundloop]

3. I have to wonder if this is a result of cutting corners on maintenance....

Obviously we'll probably never know the full truth (especially considering what's occupying the White House right now). I was involved in industrial maintenance in one way or another for many years and have seen firsthand what happens when you skimp on preventative maintenance.

[mn9driver]

4. Most likely a cable or a hook failure

It slowed them down before failing and they didn’t have enough speed remaining to take it around. Most plausible guess based on limited information. It happens.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. My Dad was radio operator on the U.S.S. Ranger and he had stories about botched landings

[Prairie Gates]

5. We should have a contest for the excuse when the third, fourth, and fifth one go over the side

[Grins]

7. Did the system use magnets? And did they get wet...?

[Deminpenn]

8. Cat and Trap equipment does fail

and there also could have been a tailhook failure. There are some tailhooks that aren't one piece, but a tail and a hook bonded together. It's also possible that the plane came in a bit too high and didn't catch all the wire. There are multiple wires strung across the carrier deck, though.

This is why the pilots constantly practice touch and go's in case they don't catch a wire upon landing on the carrier deck.

There is a new arresting system on the Ford class carriers, but the Truman has the older, hydraulic system.

Back during my time working at DoD, Navy lost an F14 in the Bearing Sea, iirc, because it wasn't properly tied down on the deck and rolled off the end of the JFK.

[taxi]

18. There are all sorts of possibilities

We lost a bird who bolted on his first attempt and was waved off on the second. One tanker was down, and the other wasn't up at the time. No options.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Maybe they shouldn't have fired Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations.

[Brainfodder]

10. I advise cancel the parade to save funds toward replacements.

[FSogol]

11. Navy jets sink rather than follow Trumpish orders.

[Brenda]

12. So, they lost two $60 million Navy jets in one week.

That's $120 million in a week.

During the reign of Chump, who ended all wars with a phone call.

Huh.

Thank the godz we won't pay $3 million a year for NPR.

[womanofthehills]

14. Supposedly - our military budget is so huge

That if our whole military budget was a box of Cheerios- those two planes would be less than one whole Cheerio (of entire budget)

[Brenda]

15. If even slightly true, how utterly sickening.

Other than cutting VA hospitals, veterans benefits and firing woke generals, what cost-saving measures have the doge team made in the black hole of tax payer funded Pentagon budget, especially for military contractors which are mostly just outright thievery.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

13. Someone is in line for a Captains Mast

and other stuff like that...........

[Nonnia Bisnez]

16. CO will likely be relieved for failure to take adequite corrective action.

A board of inquiry will likely be convened to determine cause and corrective action including recommendations for who to court martial and who to sent to non judicial punishment.

[Earl_from_PA]

17. The skipper of that boat will most definitely be relieved.

His/her career may well be over. The previous captain was relieved of command for a collision with a Panamanian-flagged ship in February.

The Truman has a history of unfortunate events.