On Sunday, a US Navy helicopter and a fighter jet were involved in separate incidents over the South China Sea during routine operations. Fortunately, all crew members from both aircraft were successfully rescued, according to the Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
An investigation has been initiated to determine the causes of these accidents. The Navy reported via social media that an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, part of the “Battle Cats” from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, crashed at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time while operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Search-and-rescue teams were able to retrieve three crew members.
Shortly after the helicopter incident, at around 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also went down under similar circumstances. Both crew members managed to eject safely and were subsequently rescued.
The South China Sea, a crucial maritime corridor, is surrounded by China and several Southeast Asian nations, with multiple governments, including Beijing, asserting claims over its waters. China has reinforced its territorial assertions by building military facilities in the region, challenging US efforts to promote free navigation in these international waters. US Navy operations play a key role in Washington’s strategy to counter China’s maritime expansion.
These incidents coincided with President Donald Trump’s diplomatic visit to Asia, where he is anticipated to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week to discuss trade issues. Recently, relations between the US and China have become strained due to tariff measures imposed by both countries following a period of relative stability. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the US has reached a framework trade agreement with China, which may help ease tensions ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting.
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This latest incident follows the Navy’s loss of two Super Hornet jets in the Red Sea earlier this spring. The cost of a single F/A-18 fighter jet exceeds $60 million, as stated by the Navy. The USS Nimitz, one of the world’s largest warships and the oldest aircraft carrier still in service, is scheduled for retirement next year.
