A US Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter crashed into the South China Sea on Sunday afternoon while conducting routine operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the Navy’s Pacific Fleet confirmed. All personnel aboard the helicopter were rescued and are reported to be in stable condition.
“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 from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11 safely recovered all three crew members,” the Navy said in a statement posted on X.
US Fighter Jet Crashes 30 Minutes Later
Roughly half an hour after the helicopter crash, a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet also went down during routine operations from the USS Nimitz.
According to the Navy, the Super Hornet was assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22.
“After the incident, at 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to the ‘Fighting Redcocks’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also went down while conducting routine operations from Nimitz. Both crew members successfully ejected and were safely recovered,” the statement read.
“All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition. The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation,” the Navy added.
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
US Navy Launches Investigation
The US Navy has launched an official investigation to determine the cause of both crashes. While details remain under review, early reports indicate that both aircraft were engaged in standard operational exercises when the accidents occurred.
This is not the first time US naval aircraft have gone down during overseas operations. Earlier this year, two US warplanes fell off the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier while operating in the Middle East.
Donald Trump On His First Asia Tour
The twin crashes occurred as President Donald Trump embarked on his first Asia tour, just ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s multi-country visit to the region.
President Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week to discuss trade and regional security. Relations between Washington and Beijing had recently soured after both nations imposed sweeping economic measures on each other.
However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the US has reached a “framework trade agreement” with China, a move expected to ease tensions ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
