Two US Navy aircraft were involved in separate incidents today during routine operations, as confirmed by officials. The US Navy’s Pacific fleet reported that both aircraft went down on Sunday, October 26, with the first incident occurring at 2:45 pm, followed by the second just 30 minutes later at 3:15 pm.
The US Navy provided further details on the incidents, although the specific causes of the crashes have not been determined yet. On October 26, 2025, at around 2:45 pm local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 crashed into the waters of the South China Sea while conducting operations from the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) aircraft carrier.
Search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11 safely retrieved all three crew members involved in the helicopter crash. Subsequently, at 3:15 pm, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also went down in the South China Sea during routine operations from the USS Nimitz. Both crew members ejected safely and were recovered by search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11.
All personnel involved in the incidents are safe and in stable condition. Investigations are ongoing to determine the causes of both aircraft crashes.