In a concerning series of events on Sunday, an F/A-18F Super Hornet and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, both assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), experienced separate crashes in the South China Sea. The incidents, which occurred during routine operations, were reported by USNI News.
At approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, part of the “Battle Cats” from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, went down in the waters of the South China Sea. According to a statement from the U.S. Pacific Fleet, search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11 were promptly deployed and successfully recovered all three crew members from the helicopter.
Less than an hour later, at 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet, belonging to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22, also crashed while operating from the USS Nimitz. Fortunately, both crew members aboard the Super Hornet ejected safely and were subsequently rescued by the same search and rescue assets from Carrier Strike Group 11.
All personnel involved in these incidents are reported to be safe and in stable condition. The U.S. Navy has launched an investigation into the causes of both crashes, which is standard protocol for such incidents.
The USS Nimitz is currently on the return leg of its final deployment before heading back to the West Coast. The carrier, along with its escorts and the embarked Carrier Air Wing 17, departed from the West Coast on March 26. During the summer, the carrier operated in the Middle East as part of the U.S. response to the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.
The carrier entered the South China Sea on October 17, 2025, as reported by USNI News. The incidents involving the MH-60R Sea Hawk and the F/A-18F Super Hornet mark a significant moment in this deployment and underscore the risks faced by U.S. naval aviation.
The complete statement from the U.S. Pacific Fleet on October 26, 2025, confirmed the details of both incidents, stating, “At approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the ‘Battle Cats’ of HSM 73 went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations from the USS Nimitz. Search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11 safely recovered all three crew members.”
Furthermore, the statement continued, “Following the incident, separately, at 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to the ‘Fighting Redcocks’ of VFA 22 also went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations from Nimitz. Both crew members successfully ejected and were also safely recovered by search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11. All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition. The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation.”
