US Navy Aircraft Crashes in South China Sea: All Crew Members Rescued

October 27, 2025 By usmanthotti Nation 2 min read

US Navy Aircraft Crashes in South China Sea: All Crew Members Rescued

On Sunday, October 26, 2025, two U.S. Navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz experienced separate crashes in the South China Sea within a 30-minute span. Both incidents resulted in the safe recovery of all five crew members involved.

Details of the Incidents

At approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 went down during routine operations. The three crew members were promptly rescued by assets from Carrier Strike Group 11 and are reported to be in stable condition.

Shortly thereafter, at 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed while conducting routine operations. Both aviators successfully ejected and were safely recovered by search and rescue teams. They are also in stable condition.

Ongoing Investigations

The causes of both crashes are currently under investigation. The U.S. Pacific Fleet has confirmed that all personnel involved are safe and in stable condition. Further details will be provided as the investigations progress.

USS Nimitz’s Deployment

The USS Nimitz is returning to its home port at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington state after a deployment to the Middle East. During this deployment, the carrier supported U.S. efforts in response to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial shipping. This mission marks the Nimitz’s final deployment before its scheduled decommissioning.

Recent Naval Incidents

These incidents follow a series of mishaps involving another U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman. In December 2024, the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 jet from the Truman. In April 2025, another F/A-18 fighter jet … In May 2025, an F/A-18 fighter jet landing on the carrier went overboard after failing to catch the arresting cables, forcing its two pilots to eject. No fatalities occurred in these earlier incidents, and investigations into them are still pending.