The USS Harry S. Truman’s eight-month deployment to the Middle East was one of the most eventful—and troubled—carrier deployments in recent memory, marked by a friendly fire incident, a collision with a merchant vessel, and three F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters lost at a cost of over $200 million.
The Norfolk-based carrier returned home on June 1, 2025 after 251 days at sea, during which the strike group conducted extensive combat operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen and delivered what officials called the largest carrier-launched airstrike in Navy history.
But the deployment was marred by a series of serious mishaps that raised questions about operational safety and readiness.
Friendly Fire Incident
In December 2024, an F/A-18 Super Hornet was shot down by friendly fire from the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg. Both crew members survived the incident, which occurred during operations in the Red Sea.
The friendly fire incident highlighted the dangers of operating in a high-threat environment where ships maintain heightened alert status against potential attacks from Houthi missiles and drones.
Collision with Merchant Vessel
On February 13, 2025, the USS Truman collided with a civilian merchant vessel in the Mediterranean Sea near Port Said, Egypt. The collision resulted in exterior damage to the carrier and led to the commanding officer, Capt. Dave Snowden, being relieved of his duties one week later.
The Navy stated that repairs to the exterior cosmetic damage would be completed during the ship’s upcoming Refueling Complex Overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding.
First Jet Lost Overboard
On April 28, 2025, the USS Truman lost an F/A-18E Super Hornet and a tow tractor while operating in the Red Sea. The aircraft, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 136, was being towed in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control.
Both the aircraft and the tow tractor went overboard. One sailor sustained a minor injury in the incident.
Second Jet Lost in Failed Landing
Just over a week later, on May 6, 2025, a second F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed into the Red Sea during a failed night landing attempt. The aircraft, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11 “Red Rippers”), missed the arresting wires used to bring landing aircraft to a halt on the carrier deck.
Both the pilot and the weapons systems officer ejected safely before the aircraft hit the water and were recovered with minor injuries.
The Cost
According to Naval Air Systems Command, each F/A-18 Super Hornet costs at least $67.4 million. The loss of three aircraft during the deployment represents approximately $202 million in lost hardware alone, not counting the costs of salvage operations, investigations, and potential impacts on readiness.
The Mission
Despite the mishaps, the Truman Strike Group accomplished significant operational objectives during its deployment. The carrier’s air wing fired over 1.1 million pounds of ordnance during months of combat operations against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
On February 1, 2025, the carrier launched 27 F/A-18 Super Hornets in what officials confirmed was the largest maritime strike in Navy aviation history by bomb tonnage. Sixteen aircraft dropped 124,000 pounds of ordnance on Islamic State targets in Somalia in less than two minutes.
The Truman Strike Group’s operations were part of a broader U.S. military effort to counter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and protect freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
Return to Norfolk
The carrier arrived at Naval Station Norfolk on June 1, 2025, concluding a deployment that showcased both the Navy’s combat capabilities and the inherent risks of sustained carrier operations in contested waters.
The Navy has launched investigations into each of the incidents, with findings expected to inform future training, procedures, and safety protocols for carrier operations.
