The US Navy announced on July 10 that one of its Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets was blown overboard in poor weather conditions whilst embarked on the aircraft carrier, USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75).
The reason behind the Super Hornet blowing overboard was due to unexpected heavy weather in the carrier's location in the Mediterranean Sea. During the accident - which remains under official investigation - the carrier was conducting a replenishment-at-sea exercise, which was subsequently terminated due to the incident.
One sailor aboard the Nimitz-class carrier was injured in an accident not related to the Super Hornet blowing overboard, but believed to be due to the poor weather conditions, these injuries are believed to be minor. The sailor is due to make a full recovery.
It is yet unknown which variant of the Super Hornet it was that blew overboard and which squadron it belonged to Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), the current CVW deployed aboard the Truman. The Super Hornet squadrons assigned to this wing comprise Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11) ‘Red Rippers’, VFA-34 ‘Blue Blasters’, VFA-81 ‘Sunliners’, and VFA-211 ‘Fighting Checkmates’.
CVW-1 is currently on deployment as part of the Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group which departed Naval Station Norfolk on December 12 last year for the maintenance of maritime stability and security in the Mediterranean for all coalition nations.
