2 US Military Aircraft Crash in the South China Sea

The US Navy confirmed that two of its aircraft crashed in the South China Sea in separate incidents on Sunday, with no casualties reported.

According to a statement from the US Pacific Fleet, the first incident involved a Seahawk helicopter that went down in the South China Sea while conducting routine operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Search and rescue teams successfully recovered all three crew members on board.

The MH-60 Seahawk is a multi-mission naval helicopter used for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and other maritime operations.

Just thirty minutes later, a Super Hornet fighter jet also crashed into the South China Sea during routine flight operations from the same carrier, the USS Nimitz. The Navy reported that both pilots ejected safely and were rescued shortly after.

Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of both accidents.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based strike fighter designed for air superiority and ground attack missions as part of the US Navy’s air wing capabilities.