i saw in the rulebook pg 27
a fighter based on a defending carrier must land on the same carrier if possible. If that carrier is destroyed in combat, it must try to land elsewhere. It must land on a different friendly carrier in the same sea zone, move 1 space to a friendly territory, island, or aircraft carrier or be destroyed
is this my answer? it’s a little unclear to me. thanks for anyone who can give a ruling!
Yes. If your carrier is hit then, after all combats are resolved, the defending player can move the fighters 1 space to an adjacent friendly landing area (territory, island or carrier). If your fighters can’t reach any friendly area with that 1 move then they are lost.