In May, the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier faced a significant setback when it lost an F-18 fighter jet due to a failure in an arresting wire. This incident occurred during a particularly demanding deployment aimed at countering Houthi attacks in Yemen. A Navy investigation highlighted these challenges and revealed that the crew was under intense stress during this mission.
From March 15 to May 6, 2025, the Truman was engaged in “Operation Rough Rider.” This operation targeted the Houthis, who were attacking both merchant and U.S. Navy ships. Over those weeks, aircraft operated for an impressive 52 days, executing over 1,000 air strikes and dropping more than a million pounds of ordnance.
This deployment was not without its issues. Along with the lost F-18s in April and May, there were significant incidents including friendly fire in December and a collision with a merchant ship in February. Thankfully, no service members were killed, but there were close calls. For instance, during the friendly fire incident, a missile from the USS Gettysburg narrowly missed one F-18 by just one or two plane lengths, alerting its crew in time for them to eject and be rescued.
Admiral Jim Kilby, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, emphasized the Navy’s commitment to learning from these events. He stated that the investigations showed a need for better training in adhering to procedures, especially in combat situations. According to a Navy official, all the mishaps were preventable.
Financially, the impact of these incidents was substantial, costing the Navy around $164 million. The loss of each F-18 added significant figures to this total. The estimated costs included $36 million for one F-18 and around $60 million for another.
This string of incidents sheds light on the high-stress environment that naval crews operate in. As military operations evolve, ensuring safety and adherence to protocols becomes increasingly critical.
For further insights, you can explore more about how the Navy is addressing these challenges in their commitment to improving operational readiness on their official Navy press release.
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Houthi, United States Navy
