US Navy Sea Hawk helicopter, F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet go down in separate South China Sea incidents
Two U.S. Navy aircraft from the carrier USS Nimitz went down over the South China Sea on Sunday, but every crew member was pulled to safety and is doing well. The incidents involve a MH‑60R “Sea Hawk” helicopter and an F/A‑18F “Super Hornet” jet, both crashing while the Nimitz was on routine patrol.
The Sea Hawk rolled off the carrier’s deck at about 2:54 p.m. local time during a normal exercise. Rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11 raced to the area and pulled all three crew members from the water. The sailors were flown back to the carrier for medical checks and were later confirmed to be in stable condition.
Shortly after, an F/A‑18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 crashed a few minutes later. The plane’s two aviators ejected safely before the aircraft hit the sea. Search‑and‑rescue crews recovered the jet, and both pilots were taken back aboard the Nimitz. They too are reported to be stable.
The Navy’s Pacific Fleet said all five service members are safe. It has not yet explained what caused the crashes. No details are known about weather, mechanical problems, or the specific training maneuvers being performed.
The Nimitz, the carrier’s oldest active ship, remains part of Carrier Strike Group 11, which conducts frequent freedom‑of‑navigation and maritime security missions in the contested South China Sea. These operations come amid growing tensions between the United States and China in the region.
Source: New York Post
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