Recovered In 400 Feet Of Water Under The South China Sea

The Navy has recovered the F/A-18F Super Hornet and MH-60R Seahawk aircraft that crashed in the South China Sea during two separate incidents in October off the USS Nimitz (CVN 68). 

A contracted boat equipped with an unmanned system retrieved the F/A-18F Super Hornet and MH-60R Sea Hawk from a depth of approximately 400 feet, according to U.S. Naval Institute News.

The two aircraft crashed into the South China Sea a half hour apart on Oct. 26, USNI News reported. All service members were rescued.

Following the crashes, the Navy deployed a salvage team to locate and recover the Super Hornet assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22 and the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 7. The Navy salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52) helped in recovering the aircraft.

Task Force 73, Task Force 75, the Naval Sea Systems Command’s supervisor of salvage and diving and CTG 73.6’s Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit led the recovery.

All recovered aircraft components are being transported to a designated U.S. military installation in the Indo-Pacific region for detailed analysis. The incidents remain under investigation.

FMI: www.navy.mil