Two US Navy Aircraft Down in 30 Minutes: South China Sea Incidents Raise Safety Questions
In a rare double incident, a US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crashed into the South China Sea within half an hour of each other on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Both aircraft were operating from the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier during routine operations.
What Happened:
At 2:45 PM local time, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 went down first. Just 30 minutes later at 3:15 PM, an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed into the waters.
The good news? All five crew members survived. The three helicopter crew members were rescued from the water, while both fighter jet pilots successfully ejected before impact and were recovered by search-and-rescue teams.
Context That Matters:
The USS Nimitz is currently on its final deployment before decommissioning in May 2026. At 49 years old, it's the Navy's oldest active aircraft carrier, now serving its 23rd deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
These crashes add to a concerning pattern of US Navy aviation incidents. The USS Harry S. Truman experienced a friendly fire incident in December when the USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down one of its F/A-18s, and another Super Hornet fell overboard in April during evasive maneuvers against Houthi missile attacks.
The cause of both Sunday crashes remains under investigation by the US Pacific Fleet.
The incidents occurred in the strategically contested South China Sea, where US forces regularly conduct freedom of navigation operations amid ongoing territorial disputes with China.
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