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Two U.S. Navy aircraft crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other Sunday, forcing five crew members to abandon them in waters claimed by the Chinese Communist Party. A Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 went down at around 2:45 p.m. local time while operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11 recovered all three crew members. At 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed during routine operations from the same carrier. Both pilots ejected and were retrieved by Carrier Strike Group 11 assets. The Pacific Fleet confirmed all five service members were secure and in stable condition. The Navy has launched an investigation into both incidents. (RELATED: US Navy Shoots Down Own Fighter Jet With Guided Missile, Forces Pilots To Eject Over Red Sea) South China Sea – On October 26, 2025 at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations — U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025 President Donald Trump called the crashes “very unusual” while taking questions from the press aboard Air Force One while flying from Malaysia to Japan, the Independent reported. “They think it might be bad fuel. We’re gonna find out. Nothing to hide, sir,” Trump said. The $60 million Super Hornet became the fourth F/A-18 the Navy has lost this year, according to the outlet. The USS Nimitz was returning to Washington state after spending the majority of the summer in the Middle East to address Houthi attacks on merchant shipping. China’s foreign ministry offered assistance with rescue and recovery if requested. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun also criticized U.S. military operations in the area, claiming they increase maritime risks and undermine peace in the region. Built in 1975, the Nimitz is the Navy’s oldest aircraft carrier still in service. She faces retirement in 2026. The Daily Caller has reached out the the U.S. Pacific Fleet for comment.
