F/A-18 Incident: Pilots Eject After Landing Mishap

On Tuesday, an F/A-18 fighter jet experienced a critical failure while landing on the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. According to a defence official, the arrestment failed, causing the aircraft to go overboard. “Arrestment” refers to the system of cables and hooks used to rapidly decelerate aircraft landing on a carrier’s short runway.

• The two pilots on board were forced to eject.
• They were subsequently rescued by a helicopter.
• Both pilots sustained minor injuries.
• No injuries were reported on the flight deck.

The incident is currently under investigation to determine the exact cause of the arrestment failure.

A String of Unfortunate Events

This recent incident is not an isolated case.The USS Harry S. truman has been involved in several other mishaps during its deployment:

• April Incident: Another F/A-18 fighter jet slipped off the hangar deck of the Truman and fell into the Red Sea. Crew members in the pilot seat and on a towing tractor managed to escape.
• December Incident: The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 after ships had earlier downed multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile. Both aviators survived.
• February Incident: The Truman collided with a merchant vessel near Port Said, Egypt.

Context: Houthi Conflict and Regional Tensions

The USS Harry S. Truman’s extended deployment is largely due to its role in the airstrike campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. These rebels have been engaged in a protracted conflict,marked by attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Adding to the complexity, U.S. President Donald Trump and Oman’s foreign minister had previously announced a ceasefire had been reached with the Houthis, who would supposedly cease targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor. However, this declaration was not instantly acknowledged by the rebels.

Israeli Airstrikes Target Sanaa Airport

Simultaneously occurring, tensions remain high as the Houthis assess the damage from recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Sanaa International Airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital. Khaled al-Shaif, the head of the airport, told the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel that the Israeli strike destroyed the airport’s terminal and left craters in its runway.

At least six passenger planes were struck, including three belonging to yemenia Airways, the country’s flag-carrying airline. That leaves the airline with only one functional aircraft,which was spared only because it had left earlier in the day on a flight to Amman,Jordan. He put overall damage there at $500 million.
Khaled al-Shaif, Head of Sanaa International Airport

Al-Shaif stated that the damage has rendered the airport out of service.

Houthi Attacks on Shipping: A Persistent threat

The Houthis have been conducting persistent missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region, claiming it is indeed an effort to end Israel’s offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

From November 2023 until January 2025, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors. This has considerably disrupted trade through the Red sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods annually.

The Houthis had paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March.