US Navy Retrieves Displaced F/A-18E Super Hornet Jet from USS Harry S. Truman Aircraft Carrier

The Retrieval of F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Depths of the Mediterranean Sea

In a remarkable feat of salvage and recovery, the F/A-18E Super Hornet that was blown off the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) aircraft carrier on July 8, 2022, has been successfully recovered from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea, as announced by the US 6th Fleet on August 8, 2022.

The incident occurred during a replenishment-at-sea operation while the carrier was navigating through unexpected heavy weather. The single-seat Super Hornet, assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1, was knocked overboard into the Mediterranean Sea. Fortunately, all personnel aboard the carrier were accounted for, and only one sailor sustained minor injuries during the operation.

The recovery effort, a collaborative endeavor involving various entities including Task Force 68, Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), Harry S. Truman, Naval Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, and the US 6th Fleet, took place aboard the multi-purpose construction vessel MPV Everest. Equipped with advanced technology, a CURV-21 remotely operated vehicle was used to meticulously attach specialized rigging and lift lines to the submerged aircraft. With a lifting hook securely fastened, the Super Hornet was carefully raised to the surface and hoisted onto the Everest.

Despite the successful recovery, the incident is still under investigation. While it remains unclear precisely where in the Mediterranean the USS Harry S. Truman was situated during the incident, reports suggest the carrier was operating in the Ionian Sea around the time of the mishap.

The USS Harry S. Truman had deployed from the East Coast in December and had been primarily operating in the Mediterranean Sea since then. Officials revealed that the carrier’s air wing was actively engaged in conducting 60 to 90 sorties a day as part of ongoing deterrence missions along NATO’s eastern front. The successful recovery of the F/A-18E Super Hornet stands as a testament to the skill, determination, and collaborative efforts of the various entities involved in the complex salvage operation.