All crew members rescued safely; probe launched amid tense US-China relations
In a dramatic series of incidents on Sunday, a US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crashed separately in the disputed South China Sea, a region already tense due to ongoing territorial disputes and growing military presence.
According to the US Pacific Fleet, both crashes happened during routine operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, one of the Navy’s largest and oldest warships, which is set to retire next year.
The first incident involved an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, which went down around 2:45 pm local time. All three crew members were quickly rescued by search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11.
About 30 minutes later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed. Both pilots ejected safely and were recovered soon after.
The US Navy confirmed that everyone involved is safe and in stable condition, and investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crashes.
The incidents come at a sensitive time — right in the middle of former President Donald Trump’s Asia diplomacy tour. Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for talks primarily focused on trade. The two nations have been trading barbs in recent weeks, imposing sweeping economic measures against each other.
However, in a slight easing of tensions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Sunday that Washington and Beijing have reached a framework trade agreement ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting.
The South China Sea remains one of the world’s most hotly contested waterways, with China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan all staking claims over parts of it. Despite international court rulings against its actions, Beijing continues to assert control over most of the region — prompting the US Navy to maintain regular patrols to ensure free passage for global trade.
In a surprising move, China’s foreign ministry offered humanitarian assistance to the United States following the crashes. Trump, meanwhile, suggested that “bad fuel” might have been to blame, though the Navy said a formal investigation is ongoing.
The crashes follow a string of recent aviation incidents for the US military, including the loss of two Super Hornet jets in the Red Sea earlier this year — highlighting the growing challenges of maintaining large-scale operations across volatile regions.
Further updates on the South China Sea twin crash are expected as investigations continue.
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