Trouble in the South China Sea: US Navy Helicopter and Jet Crash in Separate Incidents

By Susie Moore | 9:50 PM on October 26, 2025

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Public Domain image via US Navy. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) prepare for a connected replenishment at sea while underway in the Persian Gulf. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently on a regularly scheduled deployment and is participating in Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Shannon E. Renfroe (RELEASED)

There's troubling news for the U.S. Navy on Sunday, as two of its aircraft went down in the South China Sea in separate incidents. Fortunately, the crew members of both aircraft have been rescued and are said to be in stable condition.

Two U.S. Navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz — a Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet — crashed during separate "routine operations" over the South China Sea on Sunday, with all five crew members rescued and in stable condition as the Navy investigates both incidents.
...
Roughly 30 minutes after the helicopter incident, an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Nimitz, assigned to the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron 22, also went down in the South China Sea during flight operations.

The incidents come as the Navy has shifted assets to the Caribbean as tensions mount between the U.S. and Venezuela.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet shared information regarding the incidents via its X account Sunday evening.

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

From that thread:

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 from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11 safely recovered all three crew members.
Following the incident, separately, 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 in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations from Nimitz. Both crew members successfully ejected and were also safely recovered by search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11.
All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition.
The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation.

That the two incidents happened within such a short time span certainly raises all manner of questions, which, hopefully, the investigation(s) will soon answer.

Recall that the U.S.S. Harry Truman recently had a string of misfortunes, including a collision with a merchant ship that resulted in her commander being relieved, the loss of a valuable F/A-18 fighter over the side, and another F/A-18 lost due to what was termed "arrestment failure."

This is a developing story. RedState will provide further updates as additional information becomes available.

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