Fighter Jets Mistaken for Missiles: USA Releases Results of Investigation into Loss of Three F/A-18s and Collision with Aircraft Carrier

The US Navy has released the results of its investigation into the loss of three F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters during the deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea from September 2024 to June 2025.

The documents revealed a number of errors and poor decisions that led to the incidents, Task & Purpose reports.

One of the planes was shot down by friendly fire from the USS Gettysburg, which mistook two fighter jets for cruise missiles and opened fire.

The second plane fell from the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier while the ship was maneuvering to avoid a ballistic missile.

The third crashed during landing due to a malfunction of the aero-finisher system.

In the case of the USS Gettysburg, the investigation found that the commander’s decision was “neither reasonable nor justified” and could have been prevented. Among the reasons cited were poor communication between commanders and lack of proper training.

The incident with the plane falling from the deck was explained by poor crew interaction during an emergency maneuver.

The landing accident was the result of improper assembly of equipment, which led to a cable breaking and the plane falling into the sea.

A separate report was released on the collision of the Truman with a merchant ship on February 12, 2025. It also revealed a series of crew errors that could have led to more serious consequences.

The commander of the USS Harry S. Truman was fired a week after the collision. At the same time, senior Navy officials avoided specifics about disciplinary measures against other crew members, noting only that ‘accountability measures’ had been taken.

The investigation also revealed problems with the USS Gettysburg’s equipment, including the friend-or-foe system and identification equipment, which contributed to the erroneous decision to open fire.

Analysts note that the strike group command had enough information to prevent the incident, but failed to ensure proper coordination and control.