The Harry S. Truman carrier strike group’s nine-month deployment, which ended in late May, included four mishaps resulting in the loss of nearly $100 million in equipment. While no U.S. personnel were seriously hurt in any of the incidents, naval investigators acknowledge that there could’ve been “catastrophic” outcomes had they played out a little differently.
The carrier group deployed in September 2024, first heading to the North Sea, where it participated in NATO exercise Neptune Strike before it entered the Red Sea in mid-December to eventually lead the Pentagon’s Operation Rough Rider, the U.S. military’s 52-day bombing campaign of the Yemen-based Houthis.
“The Navy’s sustained combat operations in the U.S. Central Command area of operations for the past two years demonstrated our battle effectiveness and ability to maintain freedom of navigation,” said Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby. “As we reflect on these incidents and ongoing improvement efforts, the Navy remains laser-focused on producing battle-ready Sailors and forces to ensure the Navy provides our nation with the most lethal, combat-credible, and ready force possible.”
What went wrong
During the deployment, the carrier collided with a merchant vessel, shot down one of its own fighter aircraft, lost another one of its fighting aircraft while trying to evade an incoming ballistic missile, and lost a third fighter jet due to an arresting cable failure as the pilot attempted to land on it.
The Navy released the results of the four separate investigations on Thursday. The public versions of the reports, which include heavy redactions, paint a picture of sailors under significant stress and pressure, failing to communicate properly during those high-pressure moments.
A senior Navy official told reporters, “I assure you that accountability actions were taken across all the operators involved in this, and that could be from an administrative reaction to take away someone’s watch qualification to have them re-qualify, to administrative procedures in accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I don’t feel an obligation to publish those results to the world.”
Incident 1: Dec. 21, 2024
The first of the four incidents occurred on Dec. 21, 2024, when the strike group’s guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) fired two Standard Missiles (SM-2) at two F/A-18F Super Hornets embarked on Truman under the belief they were anti-ship cruise missiles. The pilots ejected themselves from the aircraft and were rescued.
The Navy investigation into this incident concluded that the Gettysburg’s commanding officer’s decision “to engage was neither reasonable nor prudent and could have been prevented by action at multiple levels.”
Incident 2: Feb. 12, 2025
The next of the four incidents occurred on Feb. 12, 2025, when the USS Harry S. Truman collided with the M/V Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt. Investigators ultimately concluded that it was avoidable but also said it could have been much worse.
“A small change in the timing of the collision or the angle of impact could have caused catastrophic results. Had the collision occurred 100 ft forward, the impact would have likely pierced a berthing compartment with 120 sleeping Sailors,” the report said. “As it was, there were eight Sailors in a space less than 10 ft from the impact locations; a 1-degree change in trajectory could have destroyed the space and caused eight fatalities. My team spoke with those eight Sailors, and they will never forget how close they came to losing their lives.”
About a week after the collision, Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, relieved the commanding officer of USS Harry S. Truman, Capt. Dave Snowden, from duty due to “a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” the Navy announced. Capt. Christopher “Chowdah” Hill, commanding officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), assumed the duty as Truman’s interim commanding officer.
In mid-March, the U.S. military announced Operation Rough Rider, targeting the Houthis in Yemen due to the group’s targeting of commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea. The carrier strike group was the spearhead of the U.S. operation.
“This carrier striker conducted 52 days of 24/7 sustained combat operations,” Kilby told reporters on Thursday.
Incident 3: April 28, 2025
On April 28, 2025, the Truman had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid an incoming Houthi-fired ballistic missile. However, in doing so, an F/A-18E Super Hornet and a tow tractor that were being moved around in the hangar bay skidded right off the deck. As the aircraft and tow tractor skidded, the investigators’ report states that the aircraft director dove for and briefly grabbed the joystick and was dragged toward the edge before letting go.
SECOND US FIGHTER JET FALLS INTO OCEAN IN THE LAST MONTH
Investigators blamed the loss of the aircraft and tow tractor on “inadequate aircraft brake engagement,” finding that the evasive maneuver was not excessive given the circumstances and that “proper communication” could have prevented the aircraft from careening off the carrier. This aircraft cost more than $36 million, and the dolly cost more than $61,000, per the report.
Incident 4: May 6, 2025
About a week later, the failure of one of the arresting wires as an F/A-18 aircraft tried to land sent it careening off the edge as well. Investigators found that there were “substandard maintenance practices,” and the root cause was the “failure of the ship’s force to install the proper clevis washer.”
The aircrew sustained “minor abrasions” in the incident, while their aircraft, per the investigation, was also lost at sea and cost a little more than $60 million.
