A second F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet has been lost in the Red Sea from USS Harry S. Truman, CNN reports on Tuesday.
Newsweek has reached out to the Navy via online form for comment.
Why It Matters
United States military troops have faced renewed threats from the Houthis, a rebel- backed group from Yemen, in the Red Sea.
Amid ongoing tensions, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would no longer strike the Houthis, as they have reached a ceasefire agreement, he says. The president’s remarks note a stark difference in recent comments he’s made toward the rebel group.
The Department of Defense has also come under intense backlash in recent weeks as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top Trump Cabinet officials engaged in a Signal group chat, which included a journalist, while discussing imminent war plans targeting the Houthis.
Signal is an encrypted messaging app. The handling of the sensitive military discussions among Trump’s brass also triggered widespread U.S. security concerns.
What To Know
CNN reports, citing people familiar with the incident, that the fighter jet was trying to land on the USS Truman and something went awry. The pilot and weapons systems officer on board had to eject from the jet and were later found by helicopter alive with minor injuries, one person familiar with the matter told CNN.
The jet then crashed into the Red Sea and has not been recovered, CNN says, citing two people familiar with the matter.
The first incident occurred last week, as the Navy confirmed in a statement that all personnel are accounted for after crew onboard lost control of the aircraft in the hangar bay and then it subsequently went into the sea.
An investigation is underway, the Navy said in the April press release regarding the first lost fighter jet.
According to the Navy, an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet costs more than $60 million and marks the latest model of the “high performance, twin-engine, mid-wing, and multi-mission tactical” jet.
When reached for comment, the Pentagon referred Newsweek to the Navy and the president’s earlier comments about the ceasefire agreement.
What People Are Saying
Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch and vocal Trump critic, posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday: “WTF is going on? Where’s Hegseth?”
Hegseth, in a post to X last week: “Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”
What Happens Next
It is immediately unknown if or when the Navy or Hegseth will react to the reports of the second lost fighter jet.
Update 5/6/25, 11:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.