A U.S. Navy helicopter and fighter jet operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz crashed within 30 minutes of each other Sunday over the South China Sea, the Navy said. All five service members were rescued and are in stable condition.
According to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, both aircraft — an MH-60R Sea Hawk and an F/A-18F Super Hornet — went down during routine operations and are now the subject of an investigation.
“All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition,” the fleet said.
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Crashes under investigation
In posts on X, the Pacific Fleet said the Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 “Battle Cats” went down around 2:45 p.m. local time. About 30 minutes later, the Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed. Both aircrew ejected and were recovered by Carrier Strike Group 11 search-and-rescue teams.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump called the crashes unusual and said they could be due to “bad fuel,” adding the cause would likely soon be known, according to Reuters.
China’s Foreign Ministry offered humanitarian assistance after the incidents, Reuters also reported.
The Navy is investigating both crashes, the Pacific Fleet said.
Timing and significance
The twin crashes coincided with Trump’s visit to Asia and came as the Nimitz makes its return voyage to the U.S. West Coast for decommissioning scheduled next year, the Wall Street Journal reported. The carrier had been deployed to the Middle East in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.
The South China Sea is a heavily contested waterway central to global trade. The U.S. Navy regularly conducts freedom-of-navigation operations there in defiance of China’s expansive territorial claims.
Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in Tokyo, following stops in Malaysia and Japan.
