Super Hornet Lost in Mediterranean Sea

On 8 July 2022, a US Navy Super Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 was blown off the deck of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) due to heavy weather.

According to the information released by the US Navy there was no personnel in the aircraft at the time. One sailor was injured due to the weather conditions at the time of the accident.

The US 6th Fleet is still reviewing how to recover the aircraft. Although the Navy did not specify the squadron, it is reported that the aicraft involved is a F/A-18E Super Hornet operated by Strike Fighter Squadron 211 (VFA-211) Fighting Checkmates ('AB-2xx'). The mishap is under investigation.

The Truman Strike Group has been operating in the Mediterranean Sea since December 2021 as part of the ongoing presence mission in Europe in parallel with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The USS Truman is expected to return to Naval Station Norfolk (VA) in August 2022 and will be relieved by USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77).

The embarked unit, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 and normally based at NAS Oceana (VA), includes the following units:

VFA-11 Red Rippers, F/A-18F, 'AB-1xx'
VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates, F/A-18E, 'AB-2xx'
VFA-34 Blue Blasters, F/A-18E, 'AB-3xx'
VFA-81 Sunliners, F/A-18E, 'AB-4xx'
VAQ-137 Rooks, EA-18G, 'AB-50x'
VAW-126 Seahawks, E-2D, 'AB-60x'
HSC-11 Dragon Slayers, MH-60S, 'AB-61x'
HSM-72 Proud Warriors, MH-60R, AB-7xx'
VRC-40 Rawhides Det., C-2A, 'xx'

Photo by Nate Leong (Scramble Archive)