A US Navy helicopter and fighter jet have crashed into the South China Sea while conducting separate routine operations.

The Navy revealed on X that an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down at around 2.45pm on Sunday (local time) while conducting operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

All three crew members were safely recovered by search and rescue teams.

Less than an hour later, at 3.15pm, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also went down while conducting operations from Nimitz.

“Both crew members successfully ejected and were also safely recovered by search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11,” the Navy’s Pacif

See Full Page