WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy on Thursday released the results of its investigation into four incidents involving the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group during its deployment to the Middle East from late 2024 to early this year.
The incidents, which occurred between December 2024 and May 2025, included the loss of three F/A-18 Super Hornets in the Red Sea and the collision of an aircraft carrier with a merchant ship near Port Said, Egypt.
The investigation found that faulty trip wires, poor computer alarms, “poor maintenance practices” and a “general low level of knowledge” among some of the airline group's employees contributed to the incidents, according to the investigation report. In December 2024, an accidental “friendly fire” incident involving two F/A-18s, in which one was shot down and the other narrowly missed, appeared to be due in part to faulty combat systems, the report said.
In April 2024, a fighter jet and tractor were lost when the carrier maneuvered to avoid fire from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the report said.
As a result of the findings, the Navy will review certain systems and operations and provide additional training to personnel to try to prevent similar incidents, according to recommendations made in the investigation's findings.
“The Navy is committed to being a learning organization,” Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby said in a written statement provided by the Navy.
The Navy said there were no personnel casualties or serious injuries as a result of the incidents.
The Navy report said the investigation found that the December 2024 “friendly fire” incident involving the downing of an F/A-18F Super Hornet by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg was caused by “a lack of integrated training capabilities between the USS Gettysburg and the carrier strike group, a lack of force support on the cruiser, and a lack of cohesion within the carrier strike group.”
This lack of cohesion “contributed to the misidentification and subsequent collision with a friendly aircraft and the near-miss of another,” the report said.
“The investigation into the December 2024 F-18 loss determined that a lack of retraining capabilities between the USS Gettysburg and the carrier strike group contributed to the misidentification and subsequent deployment of U.S. Navy aircraft,” Kilby said. “This was manifested in non-compliance with procedures, lack of force support on the cruiser and lack of cohesion among the strike group units.”
Before the incident, the Truman spent “several hours” defending itself against Houthi-launched anti-ship cruise missiles and unilateral attack drones, the report said.
The investigation also found that the February 2025 collision between the USS Truman and a merchant ship was “preventable,” according to the report. The crew aboard the Truman were unable to safely pass the ship.
Additionally, the report states that the April 2025 incident involving the loss of an F/A-18E Super Hornet and tractor was due to evasive maneuvers the Truman undertook in response to an incoming ballistic missile in the Red Sea. The investigation found that the aircraft's braking system had failed, as well as “insufficient communication between the bridge, flight deck controls and hangar bay controls.”
The investigation also determined that an incident with another F/A-18 in May 2025 was caused by a tripwire failure aboard the USS Truman. Among the reasons, according to the report, were “poor maintenance practices, poor braking equipment, leadership and a general low level of knowledge” among personnel operating the tripwire.
