PLANE OVERBOARD: $60 Million Navy Jet Falls Off Carrier. Seriously.

In a story that sounds more like a deleted scene from Top Gun: The Bloopers, a $60 million F/A-18 Super Hornet was lost at sea after falling off the USS Harry S. Truman during towing operations inside the hangar bay. Yes, you read that right — the jet fell off the aircraft carrier and is now sitting somewhere at the bottom of the Red Sea.

According to the Navy, the carrier made a hard evasive turn to avoid incoming fire from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who claim to have launched missiles and drones at the ship. That sharp maneuver apparently caused the tow crew to lose control of the aircraft, sending both the jet and its tow tractor overboard like very expensive bathtub toys.

One sailor, who was in the cockpit as per standard towing procedure, jumped out just in time. He sustained only minor injuries. All other personnel are accounted for.

“The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard,” the Navy said with impressive understatement, adding that an investigation is underway.

Former Navy captain Carl Schuster explained that carriers under attack often perform “zig-zag” maneuvers — alternating sharp 30- to 40-degree turns — to throw off incoming missiles. It’s a bit like driving a semi-truck like it’s a sports car. These turns can cause the massive 100,000-ton ship to lean dramatically, which, in this case, apparently turned the hangar into a slip ’n slide.

So to recap: A U.S. warship dodged a missile, banked hard, and in the process accidentally launched one of its own fighter jets into the sea — no enemy fire required. An F/A-18 is gone, and no, they don’t float.