A United States Navy helicopter and fighter jet crashed within the same half hour on Sunday during separate training missions over the South China Sea, the Navy’s Pacific Fleet confirmed.
Fortunately, all crew members were rescued safely.
An investigation has been launched to determine the causes of the two unrelated accidents, which occurred over one of the world’s most contested waterways, a region often viewed as a potential flashpoint for global tensions.
According to the Navy’s statement on social media, an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter “went down around 2:45 p.m. local time while conducting routine operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.” Search-and-rescue teams quickly retrieved all three crew members.
Roughly 30 minutes later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet also crashed while performing routine operations from the same carrier.
“Both crew members ejected and were safely recovered,” the Navy said.
The incident marks at least the fourth loss of a $60 million Super Hornet this year. Earlier crashes included two in the Red Sea, one after falling from an aircraft carrier and another due to a suspected landing malfunction and a separate one off the coast of Virginia during a training exercise in August.
The South China Sea, bordered by China and several Southeast Asian nations, remains a heavily disputed region.
Beijing continues to claim nearly all of the strategic waterway, ignoring an international court ruling that invalidated its expansive claims.
Over the years, China has reinforced its control by building military facilities on contested islands and reefs.
The United States, which views China’s actions as a threat to freedom of navigation and global trade, maintains a consistent military presence in the area to support allies and counter Beijing’s assertiveness.
The twin crashes coincided with President Donald Trump’s diplomatic tour of Asia, during which he is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for high-level talks expected to center on trade.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing had flared in recent weeks after both countries imposed sweeping measures on each other, breaking a brief period of calm.
However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Sunday that the two sides had reached a “framework trade agreement,” easing frictions ahead of the Trump–Xi meeting.
The USS Nimitz, one of the largest and oldest aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy, remains active but is slated for retirement next year.
