The US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is concluding its deployment in the Red Sea, marked by the loss of three F/A-18 aircraft, mishaps, and engagement in strikes against Yemen.
Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman US Navy / © Business Insider
The American warship USS Harry S. Truman is departing the Middle East and heading back to the United States following a challenging tour where the vessel suffered the loss of three warplanes, sustained harm, and was involved in various events.
A Department of Defense spokesperson informed Business Insider that the Truman has already transited the Suez Canal and is presently in the Mediterranean Sea, journeying towards its home base in Norfolk, Virginia. The precise arrival date was not shared.
From its arrival in the area in December 2024, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman faced several occurrences that captured the concern of US military command. These include the disappearance of three F/A-18 Super Hornets, each valued at approximately $60 million. One circumstance took place in late December, when the cruiser USS Gettysburg, an element of a strike force, unintentionally downed a fighter plane during flight in the Red Sea. This was categorized as a “friendly fire” event.
In February, the carrier received damage after an impact with a civilian vessel near Port Said, Egypt, resulting in the removal of the ship’s captain. In April, yet another F/A-18 went overboard while being moved on deck, but the pilot was able to escape by leaping from the cockpit.
The most recent circumstance happened in early May: during a fighter jet’s landing on the deck, a braking cable snapped, causing the aircraft to plunge into the sea. Both aircrew members ejected and were rescued by a recovery helicopter.
The USS Harry S. Truman also participated in Operation Brave Horse, a bombardment initiative directed at the Iranian-supported Houthis in Yemen. The operation was suddenly ceased by the Trump administration this month.
Subsequent to Truman’s exit from the area, only one American aircraft carrier remains in the Middle Eastern operational theater — the USS Carl Vinson, outfitted with F-35C fighters.
It was previously indicated that a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier collided with a cargo vessel bearing a Panamanian flag.