The US Navy recovered the F/A-18 Super Hornet that blew overboard from the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea.
The aircraft belongs to the Strike Fighter Squadron 211, part of the Carrier Air Wing 1 assigned to the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. It was lost on July 8, 2022, while the warship was undergoing a replenishment-at-sea operation in “unexpected heavy weather”.
The Super Hornet was recovered from a depth of approximately 9,500 feet (2,900 meters) by a salvage team operating from the multi-purpose construction vessel (MPV) Everest on August 3, 2022. A Cable-controlled Undersea Recovery Vehicle (CURV-21) was used to attach a line to the aircraft, which was then hoisted aboard the ship.
”Our task-tailored team operated safely and efficiently to meet the timeline,” said Lieutenant Miguel Lewis, US Sixth Fleet salvage officer, in a statement released by US Naval Forces Europe. “The search and recovery took less than 24 hours, a true testament to the team’s dedication and capability.”
The aircraft was delivered to Naval Air Station Sigonella in eastern Sicily, Italy, an anonymous source told The Aviationist. From there, it will be transported to the United States.
An investigation was opened to determine the cause of the incident.