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

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.

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.

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.

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.