U.S. Navy Pilot ‘Leapt from Cockpit’ Before F/A-18E Crashed into the Red Sea

A U.S. pilot was forced to jump out of the cockpit to escape an F/A-18E Super Hornet moments before it plunged off the USS Harry S. Truman and into the Red Sea earlier this week, according to a U.S. official cited by Business Insider on April 30.

The official said the pilot suffered minor injuries after exiting the aircraft just before it fell overboard. It's unclear how much time elapsed between the pilot's escape and the jet’s impact with the water.

According to standard Navy procedures, pilots are required to remain in the cockpit while their aircraft is being towed, in case emergency braking or maneuvering is needed. The Navy had previously stated that the $60 million fighter jet was being moved within the ship’s hangar bay when the crew lost control, causing both the jet and its tow vehicle to fall into the sea.

The incident likely occurred on one of Truman’s four aircraft elevators — massive platforms that lift jets from the hangar deck to the flight deck above and vice versa. At the time of the incident, the jet was believed to be positioned on or near one of these elevators.

Despite the accident, the Navy emphasized that the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group and its embarked air wing remain fully mission capable.

The Navy has not disclosed the exact cause of the loss of control but confirmed that an investigation is underway. Sources told CNN the mishap occurred during a sudden evasive maneuver by the Truman to avoid an incoming threat from Yemen’s Houthi forces — suggesting that an attack may have penetrated the outer layers of the carrier group's defenses.

On April 30, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, stating the group had successfully downed a U.S. F/A-18 and forced the Truman to retreat toward the Suez Canal. The Iran-backed rebels have launched repeated missile and drone attacks against commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea since late 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

This marks the second time the Truman strike group has lost a Super Hornet since being deployed to counter Houthi threats in the region. In December 2024, a U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser, the USS Gettysburg, accidentally shot down a fellow F/A-18F jet, prompting both pilots to eject.

The USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group is also deployed in the Red Sea as part of the U.S. effort to contain Houthi attacks. Since launching full-scale airstrikes on March 15, U.S. forces have targeted over 1,000 Houthi positions, according to defense officials.

(Source: Business Insider)

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