A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter crashed in the South China Sea shortly after taking off from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the U.S. Pacific Fleet reported.
All crew members from both aircraft were rescued and are in stable condition. The cause of the incidents is still under investigation.
The helicopter crashed around 14:45 local time during a routine operation, with all three crew members saved. The fighter jet went down approximately 30 minutes later, and both crew members were rescued. The exact crash locations were not disclosed.
The U.S. Navy regularly operates in international waters in the region to protect freedom of navigation along key global trade routes. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling rejecting its territorial claims. Other claimants include the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
The region is strategically important and rich in natural resources, making it a focal point of geopolitical tensions in Southeast Asia.
