Navy Super Hornet lost to sea in towing accident
All personnel were accounted for and one sailor sustained a minor injury, according to a Navy statement.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 213 lands aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) (Photo by Justin Katz/Breaking Defense.)
WASHINGTON — A US Navy carrier strike group lost a Super Hornet F/A-18 and associated towing tractor today when both the aircraft and tractor fell overboard, according to a service statement.
“All personnel are accounted for, with one sailor sustaining a minor injury. The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard,” according to a statement from the Navy. The Super Hornet was embarked onboard the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) which is operating near Bahrain with its associated strike group of three destroyers and one cruiser.
“Sailors towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard. An investigation is underway,” the statement continued.
Accidents such as a lost Super Hornet always attract significant congressional attention. It comes at a time when the Truman’s crew already had unwanted attention due to a collision with the civilian vessel Besiktas-M in February. On top of that, the Navy more broadly has multiple investigations ongoing regarding a friendly fire incident that also took place in the Red Sea late last year. The service chiefs are expected back on Capitol Hill in the coming months to testify before lawmakers about the new administration’s first presidential budget request.
