The U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, was involved in a collision with a commercial vessel near Port Said, Egypt, late Wednesday night, according to U.S. Navy officials.
The Truman had been operating in the Red Sea since December 14 as part of U.S. Central Command’s mission, launching airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen following their attacks on civilian and Israeli-linked vessels.
No Injuries Reported, Investigation Underway
Despite the collision, no injuries or flooding were reported on the Truman. The Navy confirmed that its propulsion system, powered by two nuclear reactors, remains fully operational and stable. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
The commercial vessel involved is a bulk carrier sailing under the Panamanian flag. It was en route from Aqaba, Jordan, to Constanta, Romania. Vessel tracking data confirmed no injuries among the bulk carrier’s crew.
A Rare Incident for the U.S. Navy
This collision marks the first major incident of its kind for the U.S. Navy in recent years. The last notable accidents date back to 2017, when two separate collisions in the Pacific resulted in the deaths of 17 sailors. Those incidents led to a fleet-wide review, with investigations attributing the crashes to crew errors.
Past collisions include the 2001 incident involving the U.S.S. Greeneville, a submarine that struck the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru near Hawaii, and the 2004 collision of the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy, an aircraft carrier, with an Arab sailing boat in the Persian Gulf.
Truman’s Role in Regional Operations
The Truman Strike Group, which includes a cruiser and two destroyers, has been actively engaged in countering Houthi threats in the region. The carrier is equipped with nine aviation squadrons and has been launching strikes in coordination with U.S. military operations.
This is the second significant mishap during the Truman’s current deployment. In December, a U.S. Navy cruiser mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet during an aerial refueling mission.
While the investigation into the latest collision continues, the U.S. Navy remains focused on its operational commitments in the region.
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Source: The New York Times
