Two US Navy aircraft — a helicopter and a fighter jet — crashed separately into the South China Sea on Sunday during routine operations. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued safely, according to officials.
In a statement released by the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet, the first incident involved an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter that went down while operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. All three crew members aboard were rescued by search and rescue teams.
About thirty minutes later, a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet also crashed into the sea during similar operations from the same carrier. The Navy confirmed that both pilots ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition.
“All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition,” the Navy said, adding that investigations are underway to determine the cause of both accidents.
The crashes occurred as US President Donald Trump continued his first visit to Asia in his second term, and as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepared to begin a regional tour.
Earlier this year, two other US warplanes were lost during operations from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East, marking another reminder of the risks of naval aviation missions.
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