Two US Navy aircraft crash in South China sea; all crew rescued safely

Incidents occurred during routine operations from USS Nimitz amid President Trump’s Asia visit

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.

In the first incident, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz went down during a routine mission.

South China Sea – On October 26, 2025 at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations

— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025

According to the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet, search and rescue teams promptly recovered all three crew members on board.

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.

from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11 safely recovered all three crew members.

Following the incident, separately, at 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks”

— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025

Read: Helicopter crash in India leaves five dead

The Navy reported that both pilots successfully ejected and were safely retrieved.

“All involved personnel are safe and in stable condition,” the Navy said, noting that investigations have been launched to determine the causes of both incidents.

All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition.

The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation.

— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025

The accidents coincided with President Donald Trump’s visit to Asia, his first of his second term, and ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s upcoming regional tour.

Earlier this year, two US Navy aircraft had similarly gone overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman during exercises in the Middle East.