The U.S. Navy confirmed on Sunday, October 26, 2025, that a fighter jet and a helicopter operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz crashed into the South China Sea in two separate incidents less than an hour apart. The accidents come only months after the Navy lost two carrier-based jets in unrelated incidents over the Red Sea.
According to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 went down at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time during routine operations. All three crew members were rescued by search-and-rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11 and are reported to be in stable condition.
Roughly 30 minutes later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed while conducting operations from the Nimitz. Both aviators ejected safely and were recovered from the water. The Navy emphasized that all five personnel involved survived and are receiving medical evaluations.
Officials stated that the causes of the crashes remain under investigation, but preliminary reports indicate no hostile activity was involved. Early assessments suggest the incidents were unrelated and may have stemmed from technical or operational malfunctions.
The twin accidents highlight the risks of high-tempo carrier operations in contested waters. The South China Sea has become a focal point of U.S. naval presence amid rising tensions with China, which claims sovereignty over much of the region. The Navy has not indicated whether the incidents will affect the Nimitz’s ongoing deployment, though the carrier is scheduled to return to its home port in Washington state later this year.
The crashes follow a series of mishaps earlier in 2025, when two Navy fighter jets were lost in separate incidents over the Red Sea. While no fatalities occurred in those cases, analysts note that the string of accidents raises questions about aircraft readiness and maintenance under sustained operational demands.
The Pacific Fleet reiterated its commitment to safety, stating: “All personnel are safe and in stable condition. Investigations are underway to determine the causes of these incidents.”
For now, the Navy is treating the back-to-back crashes as a serious operational setback, though the survival of all crew members underscores the effectiveness of emergency training and rapid rescue protocols.
Aircraft Carrier with Jets and Patriotic Banner Picture on Pexel by Karen F
Sources: U.S. Pacific Fleet; ABC News; The Straits Times; Fox News; Navy Times.
