Two US Navy aircraft and a helicopter crashed in separate incidents over the South China Sea, but fortunately, all crew members were rescued safely. The incidents have raised fresh concerns over operational safety as two US Navy aircraft and a helicopter crash in South China Sea during routine missions.
According to AFP, the first accident occurred when an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter plunged into the sea shortly after taking off from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during a routine flight. The US Pacific Fleet confirmed that all three personnel onboard were safely recovered by search and rescue teams.
Roughly 30 minutes later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet, also operating from the USS Nimitz, went down during another routine operation. Both pilots managed to eject in time and were successfully rescued.
The US Navy stated that all crew members are safe and in stable condition, while investigations into both accidents have been launched to determine the causes.
These back-to-back incidents come at a sensitive time, as US President Donald Trump embarks on his first Asia tour during his second term in office, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is preparing to visit several Asian countries to reinforce military cooperation.
Earlier this year, two other US Navy fighter jets had also crashed in the Middle East after taking off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, raising similar questions about the US Navy’s aircraft safety standards during overseas operations.