Navy Reports: Series Of Preventable Mishaps Aboard USS Harry S. Truman During Houthi Campaign

The U.S. Navy released investigative reports detailing four separate mishaps involving the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group while responding to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. Collectively, the reports describe a strike group operating under sustained missile and drone attack and an intensified operational tempo that strained crews, degraded maintenance, and contributed to a string of preventable failures.

Friendly Fire: Cruiser Fires On U.S. Jets (Dec. 22, 2024)

During the Truman's first defensive strikes on Dec. 22, 2024, ships in the strike group defended against multiple Houthi-launched cruise missiles and attack drones. The cruiser USS Gettysburg misidentified several F/A-18F fighters from the carrier as incoming threats and launched missiles at two of them. One jet was struck and its crew ejected; the other missile was intercepted by the ship before it could hit.

The investigation faulted personnel in Gettysburg's combat information center for inadequate training and an overreliance on automated systems, citing human error and procedural weaknesses rather than equipment malfunction as primary causes.

Collision With Merchant Vessel Near Suez Canal (February)

In February, as Truman transited the congested waters near the Suez Canal after a port visit, investigators found the carrier was behind schedule and moving at a speed that would have required roughly 1.5 miles to stop after securing engines—an unsafe choice for the traffic conditions. When a merchant vessel entered the carrier's path, the officer of the watch did not take sufficient action to avoid a collision. The investigation designated that officer's decisions as the primary cause and also criticized senior leaders, including the ship's commander and navigator, for failing to appreciate and mitigate the heightened risks of the transit.

Jet Slid Off Hangar Deck During Evasive Maneuvers (April)

After returning to the Red Sea, high operational tempo persisted. Capt. Christopher Hill told investigators the crew had been 'flying everyday with little exception' since mid-March while the ship endured frequent drone and cruise-missile attacks and extended deployments. That pressure reduced time available for routine maintenance and deck upkeep.

During an April missile threat, the bridge ordered abrupt maneuvers while sailors were moving an F/A-18F in the hangar. Procedures called for hangar doors to be closed, but the aircraft blocked that process. Sailors said they were not warned about the turns; as the carrier heeled, the jet slipped and fell into the sea. Witnesses reported the jet's wheels continued to roll even as the pilot attempted to apply brakes. Investigators pointed to a combination of human factors and degraded deck conditions—deck scrubs had been delayed by combat operations—as contributing causes. The probe recommended revoking the qualifications of the sailor responsible for applying the brakes because of identified knowledge and procedural deficiencies.

Arresting Cable Failure During Landing (May 2025)

In May 2025, a separate F/A-18F went overboard while attempting to trap aboard the Truman when an arresting cable snapped mid-landing. The investigation found that maintenance shortfalls had left a critical part missing in the system that connects flight-deck cables to below-deck hydraulic braking equipment. That missing component allowed a large connecting pin to migrate over the course of at least 50 landings until it sheared off.

Rear Adm. Sean Bailey described the mishap as entirely preventable and said multiple individuals at all leadership levels were complicit in allowing arresting-gear maintenance to degrade.

Investigators nevertheless acknowledged that maintenance personnel struggled to balance required upkeep with pressing operational demands and that many sailors identified operational tempo as a primary challenge in sustaining equipment readiness.

Overall Findings

The reports point to repeated themes: human error, degraded maintenance, risky command decisions, inadequate training in some watch sections, and the damaging effects of sustained combat operations on routine procedures and equipment care. The Navy recommended personnel actions, equipment inspections and repairs, and steps to better reconcile maintenance needs with operational commitments.