SOUTH CHINA SEA – A U.S. Navy Seahawk helicopter and a Super Hornet fighter jet crashed in separate incidents just 30 minutes apart in the South China Sea, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Both aircraft were operating from the USS Nimitz.
At approximately 2:45 p.m. local time on October 26, 2025, the Seahawk helicopter, part of the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, went down during routine operations. All three crew members were safely rescued by search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11.
Shortly after, at 3:15 p.m., a Super Hornet fighter from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed while conducting routine operations from the USS Nimitz. Both crew members ejected safely and were recovered by the same rescue teams.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet confirmed that all five service members involved are in stable condition. The cause of both incidents is under investigation, with no immediate details on weather conditions or potential mechanical issues.
The USS Nimitz, the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, is deployed in the Indo-Pacific region as part of Carrier Strike Group 11. This group regularly undertakes freedom of navigation and maritime security operations in the contested waters of the South China Sea, where tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising.
The incidents occurred as President Trump is traveling in Asia, with planned meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing of these crashes has drawn increased attention to the region.
The U.S. Navy has not disclosed further information about the nature of the missions at the time of the crashes. The situation remains a developing story, with ongoing investigations.