According to multiple media reports, another F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter, the USS Harry Truman, crashed in the Red Sea on May 6 local time. This is the second fighter that the aircraft carrier lost in 8 days. Previously, on April 28, an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter and its deck tractor "accidentally fell into the sea."

  Why did two Super Hornets fall into the sea in the US Truman aircraft carrier within such a short time? Is this related to the war between the US Navy and the Houthi forces?

  Another fighter jet of the US aircraft carrier crashed in the Red Sea eight days apart

  Special commentator Song Xiaojun: The "Super Hornet" fighter jet on the US Navy's USS Truman aircraft carrier suffered another serious accident in just 8 days. Due to improper operation, the tail hook failed to hook the blocking cable and eventually fell into the sea. The reason is to fight the Houthi armed forces at a high density.

  Two US carrier-based aircraft fell into the sea one after another and were related to "fatigue operation"

  Special commentator Song Xiaojun: Since its deployment in September last year, at that time, the Biden administration launched a crackdown on the Houthi armed forces. The carrier-based aircraft on the Truman needs to continue to attack and carry out strike missions. It has been in a high-intensity combat state. After the operation ended in January this year, the Trump administration launched a new crackdown on the Houthi armed forces in March, and the Truman participated again. This means that more than 40 "Super Hornet" fighter jets on the ship have been in high-density and high-intensity combat missions for a long time.

  Special commentator Song Xiaojun: The "Super Hornet" fighter jet is a transitional equipment. At that time, US aircraft carrier-based aircraft were facing renewal, and the new generation of F-35 fighter jets were delayed due to delay in R&D progress. To fill this gap, the United States developed the "Super Hornet" based on the "Hornet" fighter jet, which is divided into single-seat and two-seat type. The one who fell into the sea 8 days ago was a single-seat type, and the one who fell into the sea this time was a two-seat type. As a transitional model, the "Super Hornet" undertakes a lot of tasks. It is a multi-purpose fighter that requires both air, sea and ground attack capabilities. Moreover, since the unmanned tankers on the ship have not yet been put into service, in the flight wing of more than 40 fighter jets, about one-third of the fighter jets are still required to undertake refueling tasks each time they are dispatched. Such a heavy task has greatly improved the training intensity and density of pilots. Pilots not only need to obtain various flight certificates, but also need old pilots to teach new pilots. Long-term high-intensity training puts the pilot in a state of high fatigue. 

  Special commentator Song Xiaojun: Since its deployment in September last year, the Truman has participated in two high-density attack operations. During this period, pilots must always be alert to Houthi missile strikes, and also deal with fatigue operations caused by high-density combat. Under double pressure, whether it is an operational error in avoiding missiles or improper operation caused by fatigue, it is very likely to cause the fighter jet to crash into the sea.

[Editor in charge: Wang Jinzhi]