6 crashed in a year: US Navy F/A-18 losses underscore urgency for F/A-XX
August 21, 2025
A US Navy pilot was rescued on August 20 after ejecting from an F/A-18E Super Hornet during a training flight off the Virginia coast, marking the latest in a string of mishaps involving the Navy’s long-serving strike fighter.
The crash, near Naval Air Station Oceana, adds another data point to a growing pattern of operational strain not just on the airframe, but on the fleet that relies on it.
With six F/A-18-related incidents in under a year, the Super Hornet continues to carry the weight of US carrier air power, even as pressure builds to transition toward a new generation of naval aviation.
US Navy F/A-18 crashes into the ocean
The pilot involved in Wednesday’s crash, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 83, was safely recovered from the Atlantic Ocean just over an hour after ejecting. The aircraft, however, remains unrecovered, and the cause of the incident is under investigation.
While the Navy is treating it as an isolated event, the crash comes after a series of high-profile mishaps:
- In May 2025, a Super Hornet plunged into the Red Sea while attempting to land on the USS Harry S. Truman, the fourth major incident involving the carrier in recent months.
- In April, another jet fell overboard during towing operations on the same vessel, drawing attention to procedural vulnerabilities.
- In February, a Growler variant crashed into San Diego Bay, with its crew rescued by a civilian boat.
- In December 2024, a Super Hornet was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire from the USS Gettysburg, a serious incident that highlighted weaknesses in Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems under combat stress.
International partners have also experienced trouble. In October 2024, a Spanish F-18 crashed near Teruel, while earlier that same year, a Navy test flight unintentionally caused the destruction of an A-4 Skyhawk due to aerodynamic interference, a rare but dramatic example of the risks involved in high-performance air operations.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet is crucial to the US Navy
Despite its recent setbacks, the Super Hornet remains a pillar of US naval aviation.
Introduced in 1999, it was designed to replace the F-14 Tomcat and earlier Hornet variants. Today, the F/A-18E/F and its electronic warfare cousin, the EA-18G Growler, are the mainstays of carrier strike groups still flying daily missions, from training and interception to combat patrols over tense waters like the Red Sea.
But the aircraft is nearing the limits of its lifecycle. While the latest Block III Super Hornet offers upgraded avionics, stealth features, and increased service life, it is widely seen as the final major iteration.
A multibillion-dollar contract by the US Navy awarded in March 2024 will see Boeing deliver the final 17 Super Hornets by 2027, closing the chapter on new-build production for the fleet.
Rear Admiral John Lemmon, the Navy’s executive officer for tactical aircraft, stated that the aircraft “will continue to provide significant combat capability into the 2040s” but that effort now depends on comprehensive technical data packages to support maintenance, upgrades, and sustainment.
The US Navy needs the F/A-XX
At the heart of this shift lies the F/A-XX programme, the US Navy’s ambitious plan to develop a sixth-generation, carrier-based stealth fighter by the 2030s.
The effort is seen as a necessary leap forward in an era of rapidly evolving air threats, peer competition, and contested maritime zones. However, the programme has already encountered political headwinds.
Negotiations between the Navy, Boeing, and the previous Trump administration saw delays and disputes over cost and timelines.
Congressional support remains divided, particularly as defence budgets tighten and legacy platforms like the Super Hornet still require extensive resources to remain operational.
Until the F/A-XX comes online, the Navy faces a difficult balancing act: maintaining the readiness and safety of an ageing fleet while preparing for a generational leap in capability.
Why does the F/A-18 keep crashing?
Beyond the hardware and procurement politics, recent incidents reflect a layered reality, one where technical malfunctions, human factors, and systemic vulnerabilities intersect.
Investigations into past crashes have cited factors ranging from outdated avionics and flight control issues to weather-related complications and split-second misjudgements by fatigued pilots. In high-pressure operational environments like the Red Sea or carrier flight decks, even minor errors can cascade into major incidents.
Despite these challenges, the Super Hornet has proven adaptable and resilient. Its versatility, from close air support to aerial refuelling, and its role in joint and allied operations continue to make it invaluable to the US Navy and its partners.
