2 months ago
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WASHINGTON (AP) — An F/A-18 combatant pitchy slipped disconnected the hanger platform of an craft bearer deployed to the Middle East, arsenic sailors were towing the craft into spot successful the hangar bay of the USS Harry S. Truman connected Monday, the Navy said.
The unit members who were successful the aviator spot of the Super Hornet and connected the tiny towing tractor some jumped retired earlier the pitchy and the tug went into the Red Sea. According to a defence official, the sailor who jumped from the craft sustained a insignificant injury. The authoritative spoke connected information of anonymity to sermon unit details.
“The F/A-18E was actively nether tow successful the hangar bay erstwhile the determination unit mislaid power of the aircraft. The craft and tow tractor were mislaid overboard,” the Navy said successful a statement. The pitchy was portion of Strike Fighter Squadron 136; Navy records amusement that Strike Fighter Squadron 136 is based astatine NAS Lemoore.
Fighter jets are routinely towed astir the hangar platform to parkland them wherever they are needed for immoderate formation operations oregon different work. It is unclear whether determination volition beryllium an effort to retrieve the jet, which costs astir $60 million. The incidental is nether investigation.
The Truman has been deployed to the Middle East for months and has precocious been progressive successful stepped-up subject operations against the Yemen-based Houthi rebels. U.S. Central Command has said that the subject has conducted regular strikes, which person been done by combatant jets, bombers, ships and drones.
The Truman's deployment has already been extended erstwhile by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by astir a month.
