A US Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet crashed separately during routine operations over the South China Sea on Sunday, the US Pacific Fleet confirmed. Fortunately, all crew members from both aircraft were safely rescued, and no fatalities were reported.
According to the Navy’s statement, the MH-60R Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down around 2:45 p.m. local time while operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Search-and-rescue teams swiftly recovered all three crew members on board.
Roughly 30 minutes later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet belonging to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also crashed into the sea while conducting flight operations from the same carrier. Both pilots ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition.
The US Navy stated that the cause of both incidents is currently under investigation. These back-to-back crashes occurred as US President Donald Trump toured Asia for the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade and regional security issues.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have been high in recent weeks following a series of economic measures imposed by both nations. The timing of the accidents has drawn attention given the geopolitical backdrop of increasing military activity in the South China Sea — a region of growing strategic competition.
The USS Nimitz, one of the world’s largest and oldest aircraft carriers, is expected to be decommissioned next year. The recent incidents add to a string of US Navy aviation mishaps this year, including the loss of two Super Hornets in the Red Sea and two warplanes from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East.
Each F/A-18 fighter jet costs more than $60 million, underscoring the magnitude of operational risks faced by carrier-based aviation in contested waters.
