F/A-18 Super Hornet and SH-60 Sea Hawk Go Down in the South China Sea

In less than an hour, the US Navy reported two separate incidents that left a fighter jet and a helicopter from the USS Nimitz stranded at the bottom of the South China Sea. Luckily, all five crewmembers were quickly rescued and treated.

The first incident came around 2:54 pm local time when an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 went down during routine operations. The three-person crew was picked up by nearby ships from Carrier Strike Group 11 and returned safely to the carrier for medical checks. All were found to be in stable condition.

Roughly half an hour later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 followed suit, crashing during flight operations off the same carrier. The two aviators aboard successfully ejected, were recovered, and are also reported to be stable. Two aircraft down, five people safe, and one carrier crew that probably didn’t expect quite this much paperwork on a Sunday.

Both accidents occurred during standard flight operations in the Indo-Pacific, where the Nimitz has been deployed as part of the US Navy’s work to maintain a steady presence in contested South China waters.

The Nimitz is the Navy’s oldest active carrier, commissioned in 1975 and now wrapping up its final deployment after five decades of service. Over its career, the vessel has seen everything from Cold War patrols to operations in the Middle East. Its tenure also means that it has more stories than most… though losing two aircraft to standard procedures in an hour is still a standout.

The causes remain under investigation, with no word yet on whether weather, mechanical failure, or bad luck played a role. Despite the double loss, operations aboard the Nimitz are reportedly continuing as planned while the Navy attempts to recover whatever wreckage it can.

FMI: www.navy.mil