Page Reader AI | US Sailor Jumped From Super Hornet Cockpit Before It Fell Into Red Sea

US Sailor Jumped From Super Hornet Cockpit Before It Fell Into Red Sea - Business Insider

AI Summary Hide AI Generated Summary

Incident Summary

A US Navy sailor successfully jumped from the cockpit of an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet just before the aircraft fell into the Red Sea. The incident occurred on Monday while the jet was being moved on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. The sailor, who sustained minor injuries, was reportedly in the cockpit as standard procedure to assist with the moving process and use the emergency brake or steer if needed.

Aircraft and Carrier Details

The F/A-18E Super Hornet, valued at approximately $60 million, was being towed in the Truman's hangar bay when it fell overboard. The hangar bay is located underneath the flight deck and is where aircraft undergo maintenance. The jet was likely on one of the carrier's four aircraft elevators that transfer planes between the hangar bay and the flight deck. The Navy has launched an investigation into the incident.

Context and Background

This is the second F/A-18 lost by the Truman's air wing during its Red Sea deployment. In December, another Super Hornet was shot down by the USS Gettysburg, another vessel in the strike group, in a friendly fire incident. The Truman is involved in combat operations against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, and the Houthis had previously attacked the carrier with missiles and drones, prompting an evasive maneuver which some reports, unconfirmed by Business Insider, suggest may have contributed to the incident.

Consequences and Aftermath

Despite the incidents, the Navy stated that the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and embarked air wing remain fully mission capable.

A US Navy sailor jumped from the cockpit of an F/A-18 fighter jet just before it fell off an aircraft carrier into the Red Sea on Monday, a defense official confirmed to Business Insider.

The sailor was involved in moving the jet when the incident occurred, the official said.

The Navy revealed earlier this week that an F/A-18E Super Hornet and a tow tractor fell off the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and into the sea after the move crew "lost control" of the fighter aircraft. It didn't say why the crew lost control of the plane, but it did say a sailor was hurt.

A US defense official told BI on Wednesday that the sailor, who was lightly injured, bailed out of the F/A-18 cockpit when it became clear the aircraft was going to go overboard.

It's unclear how much time passed between the sailor leaving the plane and it falling into the water. The defense official said it's standard practice for a sailor to be in the jet's cockpit when the aircraft is being moved in case the crew needs to use the emergency brake or steer.

In its statement on the incident, the Navy said sailors towing the jet "took immediate action to move clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard." CNN first reported that a sailor was in the cockpit at the time.

The Navy said Monday that the F/A-18, which is estimated to cost about $60 million, was under tow in the Truman's hangar bay, an area underneath the flight deck where aircraft receive maintenance, when it fell into the Red Sea.

At the time, the fighter jet was likely on one of Truman's four aircraft elevators, which move aircraft between the hangar bay and the flight deck. The Navy said an investigation is underway.

"The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and embarked air wing remain fully mission capable," the sea service said.

Monday's incident marks the second time Truman's air wing has lost an F/A-18 during its Red Sea deployment. In December, the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the strike group, shot down a Super Hornet in what was described at the time as "an apparent case of friendly fire." Its two aviators ejected safely.