Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Two U.S. Navy aircraft went down in the South China Sea on Sunday in separate incidents just 30 minutes apart, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Both aircraft were deployed from the USS Nimitz, which is returning to its home port at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington.
The first incident involved an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (“Battle Cats”), which crashed at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time. All three crew members were rescued safely.
Thirty minutes later, at 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 (“Fighting Redcocks”) also went down. Both crew members ejected and were recovered safely. This marks the fourth F/A-18 loss for the U.S. Navy this year.
President Donald Trump described the crashes as “very unusual” and suggested a possible fuel issue, saying, “They think it might be bad fuel. We’re gonna find out. Nothing to hide.”
China’s foreign ministry offered humanitarian assistance for rescue operations if requested, while also criticizing U.S. military operations in the region, which it claims increase risks to maritime activity and undermine regional peace.
The USS Nimitz, commissioned in 1975 and the U.S. Navy’s oldest active aircraft carrier, is scheduled for decommissioning in 2026. The incidents occurred amid Trump’s Asia tour, which includes meetings with key regional leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, as tensions over South China Sea territorial claims continue.
All personnel involved were confirmed safe and stable, and investigations into both crashes are underway.
