The U.S. Navy released details from their investigation into multiple incidents involving the USS Harry S. Truman during its eight-month deployment that began last year.
The USS Harry S. Truman played a key role in the United States' efforts to counter Houthi Rebels in the Red Sea earlier this year.
Watch previous coverage: Norfolk-based USS Harry S. Truman strikes Houthi bases, defends counterattacks
One report also found that, in some parts of the ship, the intense combat operations “led to a numbness among the crew” and some sailors “lost sight of the purpose of their role to the mission.” The deployment was originally planned to only last six months; however, heightened tensions resulted in the Truman's presence in the region being extended.
The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier was involved in a friendly fire incident, a ship collision off the coast of Egypt, and two F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets being lost at sea. The investigation recommended for service members to better follow Navy policies, adding that numerous actions have been taken since the USS Harry S. Truman returned home.
Regarding the friendly fire incident, two Navy pilots were shot down soon after flying off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman, with one receiving minor injuries.
The USS Gettysburg, one of the ships in the strike group, fired at the F/A-18F fighter jets because they were mistaken for Houthi missiles. The sailors in the Gettysburg’s combat information center were blamed for being poorly trained, according to the report.
Watch previous coverage: 2 Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident, the US military says
“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement released in Dec. 2024.
On Feb. 12, the Truman collided with a merchant vessel in the Mediterranean Sea around 11:45 p.m. The ship did not experience flooding and no injuries were reported as a result of the collision. However, the Navy did share a photo showing damage to the ship’s exterior.
The investigators concluded that an officer was navigating the Truman at an unsafe speed. The officer in charge failed to take enough action to move out of danger, according to the report. It was also mentioned that the waters outside the Suez Canal are heavily trafficked.
Two F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jets — each estimated to have cost $60–73 million — were lost from the Truman on separate occasions.
Watch previous coverage: Fighter jet landing on USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier goes overboard, forcing pilots to eject
In April, one jet fell overboard when the move crew lost control of the aircraft while it was being towed in the hangar bay; one sailor sustained a minor injury. An incoming Houthi missile resulted in the ship taking a sharp turn while hangar doors remained open, according to the report. This prompted the jet to slip off the deck.
Stress due to the repeated drone and missile attacks, along with the extended deployment, was cited as an underlying factor for this incident, according to the report.
The following month, another jet fell off the aircraft carrier during a landing attempt due to an arrestment failure. Both pilots were forced to eject and received minor injuries. The cable used during jet landings broke due to poor maintenance, the investigators concluded. A connecting pin — intended to keep the system of cables fastened — had been severed.
The combined cost of these incidents totaled to around $164 million, according to the U.S. Navy's investigation.
The aircraft carrier returned to Norfolk on June 1.
