Second plane falls off US carrier in 10 days
An F-35 pilot prepares for take off from the Vermont Air National Guard Base with the flag of the United States, before a flyover in South Burlington, Vermont, US May 22, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
A US warplane plummeted into the Red Sea when trying to land on the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, a defense official said Wednesday, the second jet lost from the ship in just over a week.
The F/A-18F Super Hornet — which cost about $67 million — went overboard Tuesday due to a failure in the procedure for aircraft to catch a wire with a hook to help them stop after landing.
"The arrestment failed, causing the aircraft to go overboard," the defense official said.
"Both aviators safely ejected and were rescued," the official said, adding that they had minor injuries.
It is the second F/A-18 operating off the Truman to be lost in recent days.
On April 28, a similar F/A-18E fell off the carrier when the crew that was towing it in the hanger lost control of the plane.