A United States F/A-18 fighter jet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 was lost off the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea.
As the sailors were towing the aircraft into place in the hangar bay of the boat, they lost control and it went overboard according to the US Navy.
The jet and small tractor towing it were both lost at sea and one sailor was left injured after he had to jump out of the pilot seat of the Super Hornet.
“The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard,” the U.S. Navy statement said.
The jet was valued at around US$60 million (A$93 million) and while it is unclear whether there will be an effort to recover the jet, the navy said the incident is under investigation.
The USS Harry S Truman has been deployed to the Middle East for months and was recently involved in military operations against Yemen based Houthi rebels.
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