U.S. Navy Loses Another Fighter Jet After Second F-18 Crashes Into the Red Sea

Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anna Van Nuys/U.S. Navy via AP

The U.S. Navy has lost a fighter jet in the Red Sea for the second time in less than 10 days.

On Tuesday, an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet reportedly suffered some sort of arrestment failure as it was attempting to land on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, five people familiar with the matter told CNN. The two pilots managed to eject before the plane went crashing into the water. They were recovered and are alive. Meanwhile, the jet remains in the sea. Four of the sources CNN cited say Houthi rebels “took a shot” at the ship.

F/A-18 Super Hornets are made by Boeing Defense, Space, & Security. They cost at least $60 million apiece.

The crash comes amid the announcement by President Donald Trump of a ceasefire between the U.S. and the Houthis, which are backed by the Iranian government. U.S. forces have bombed Houthi targets in Yemen on and off since the Obama administration. In recent weeks, Trump has stepped up airstrikes to counter Houthi attacks on ships off the coast of Yemen.

The plane was the second F/A-18 fighter jet to be lost in the Red Sea recently from the USS Harry S. Truman. On April 28, the Navy lost a jet when it fell off the ship after officials say the gigantic carrier pulled off an evasive maneuver to avoid incoming fire from Houthis.

Shortly after Trump took office in January, an $80 million F-35 crashed near an airbase in Alaska. The pilot managed to eject and was unharmed.