An MH-60R Sea Hawk and F/A-18F Super Hornet from USS Nimitz went down in the South China Sea; all five crew rescued. Search-and-rescue and investigations are ongoing.
US Navy Confirms Dual Aircraft Crash in the South China Sea
Two U.S. Navy aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz crashed into the South China Sea on Sunday in separate incidents about 30 minutes apart, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said. An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet went down while conducting routine carrier flight operations; all five service members — three aboard the Sea Hawk and two aviators from the Super Hornet — were recovered and reported in stable condition.
The first mishap involved the MH-60R Sea Hawk at about mid-afternoon local time, followed roughly half an hour later by the Super Hornet. Search-and-rescue teams from the carrier strike group responded immediately and retrieved the aircrew using recovery assets on scene; the rescued sailors were taken back aboard the USS Nimitz for medical checks. The Pacific Fleet confirmed there were no fatalities and emphasised that the safety of personnel was the top priority.
Officials described both events as occurring during routine flight operations; the Navy said details about the causes remain under investigation. Investigators from the Navy aviation safety and mishap boards will examine flight data, maintenance logs and eyewitness accounts to determine whether mechanical failure, human factors, environmental conditions or a combination of factors contributed to the accidents. The probe is expected to take time, and the Navy will release findings after the formal investigation concludes.
The incidents drew immediate attention because they happened in a geopolitically sensitive region. The South China Sea is a busy international waterway where U.S. naval operations, freedom-of-navigation patrols and diplomatic activity often draw scrutiny. However, Navy statements stressed there were no hostile actions reported in connection with the crashes; all reporting agencies cited only operational mishap and recovery efforts at this stage.
