Incidents occurred during routine operations from USS Nimitz amid President Trump\u2019s Asia visit<\/p>\n
Two separate crashes involving US Navy aircraft occurred over the South China Sea on Sunday, officials confirmed, adding that all personnel were rescued and no lives were lost.<\/p>\n
In the first incident, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz went down during a routine mission.<\/p>\n
\nSouth China Sea \u2013 On October 26, 2025 at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the \u201cBattle Cats\u201d of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations<\/p>\n
\u2014 U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
According to the US\u00a0Navy\u2019s Pacific Fleet, search and rescue teams promptly recovered all three crew members on board.<\/p>\n
Roughly thirty minutes later, a Boeing F\/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet also crashed into the sea while conducting standard operations from the same carrier.<\/p>\n
\n\nfrom the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11 safely recovered all three crew members.<\/p>\n
Following the incident, separately, at 3:15 p.m., an F\/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to the \u201cFighting Redcocks\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Read:<\/strong> Helicopter crash in India leaves five dead<\/a><\/p>\n
The Navy reported that both pilots successfully ejected and were safely retrieved.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll involved personnel are safe and in stable condition,\u201d the Navy said, noting that investigations have been launched to determine the causes of both incidents.<\/p>\n
\n\nAll personnel involved are safe and in stable condition.<\/p>\n
The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation.<\/p>\n
\u2014 U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
The accidents coincided with President Donald Trump\u2019s visit to Asia, his first of his second term, and ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s upcoming regional tour.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, two US\u00a0Navy aircraft had similarly gone overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman during exercises in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n