Two U.S. Navy Aircraft Lost 30 Minutes Apart in the South China Sea

Two US Navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz crashed in separate incidents within half an hour of each other over the South China Sea, prompting parallel investigations into one of the most unusual operational mishaps to strike a US carrier air wing in recent years.

According to statements from the US Pacific Fleet, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet went down roughly 30 minutes apart during routine operations on Sunday afternoon. Both crashes occurred while the carrier was operating in international waters of the South China Sea, a region already marked by high military tension and frequent surveillance flights. All five aviators involved, three from the helicopter and two from the jet, were rescued alive by nearby recovery teams. Navy officials confirmed that all personnel are in stable condition and receiving medical evaluation aboard the Nimitz. No casualties were reported on the ship or elsewhere.

The first incident occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time when an MH-60R Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, known as the “Battle Cats,” experienced what the Navy called a “flight emergency” shortly after takeoff. The crew managed to send a distress call before the aircraft went down in the water near the carrier. A quick-response team from the Nimitz launched rescue boats within minutes and recovered all three crew members.

Initial reports indicate that the Sea Hawk sank shortly after impact, though debris and key components have since been located for retrieval. The MH-60R is one of the Navy’s most versatile helicopters, designed for anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations. Its reliability record is strong, making the sudden loss of one, particularly during standard operations, a matter of serious concern for naval investigators.

Barely 30 minutes later, at around 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, the “Fighting Redcocks,” also went down. The jet was conducting flight operations as part of a routine carrier qualification exercise when it suffered an unspecified malfunction. Both aviators ejected and were quickly recovered by a Navy helicopter crew already in the air for ongoing training missions.

Eyewitness accounts from sailors aboard the carrier described seeing the fighter lose altitude rapidly before both ejection seats fired in sequence. The Super Hornet is the backbone of the Navy’s carrier air wings, a twin-engine, multirole strike fighter capable of operating in virtually any weather condition. The loss of an F/A-18F, especially in conjunction with another aircraft from the same carrier within such a short time frame, has raised questions about possible systemic or environmental causes.

Captain Richard L. Hayes, spokesperson for the US Pacific Fleet, said both accidents are under active investigation and that flight operations aboard the Nimitz were temporarily suspended following the second crash. “Safety of our aviators and aircrews remains our top priority,” Hayes said in a statement. “We are working diligently to recover the aircraft wreckage and determine the cause of these incidents. At this stage, there is no indication of hostile activity or a single linked cause, but we are not ruling anything out.”

Preliminary data suggests the weather in the area was fair, with light winds and good visibility, reducing the likelihood of environmental interference. Investigators are focusing on potential mechanical or fuel-related factors, as well as reviewing maintenance records and flight logs from both squadrons. Former naval aviators contacted by defence media noted that while two unrelated crashes from the same carrier within 30 minutes is exceedingly rare, it is not unprecedented. However, it typically prompts a comprehensive operational pause to check for fleet-wide issues.

Defence analysts have also pointed to the Nimitz’s unique status: it is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet, commissioned in 1975 and now believed to be on its final deployment before decommissioning. While the carrier itself is maintained to strict operational standards, the age of associated systems and logistical chains has been cited as a potential area of review.

The timing and location of the crashes have garnered significant attention due to the Nimitz's deployment in the Indo-Pacific, an area where US naval activities are closely monitored by China. Although Beijing has not released an official statement regarding the incident, Chinese social media and state-affiliated outlets have promptly highlighted the crashes' proximity to disputed waters.

The South China Sea continues to be one of the most congested and contested maritime areas globally, with China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other countries having overlapping territorial claims. The US Navy regularly carries out "freedom of navigation" missions in the region, affirming the right to operate in international waters and airspace.

“Even in non-combat conditions, carrier flight operations are inherently dangerous,” said retired Rear Adm. Mike Manazir, a former F/A-18 pilot and naval strategist. “Every launch and recovery involves complex systems, human judgment, and environmental factors that must work in perfect harmony. When two mishaps happen in close succession, the Navy will want to understand whether it’s a coincidence or something systemic.”

Salvage operations are now underway to recover both aircraft from the seabed. Navy divers and remotely operated vehicles have been deployed from nearby support vessels to locate key wreckage. The recovered flight recorders, if intact, will provide crucial data on the aircraft’s final moments. In Washington, the incidents have already drawn congressional attention. Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have requested a briefing on the accidents and readiness levels across carrier strike groups operating in the Indo-Pacific region. The Nimitz Strike Group, which includes the cruiser USS Bunker Hill and several destroyers, had been expected to begin its transit back to the United States later this year after months of operations in the Western Pacific. Whether those plans will be delayed remains unclear.

Despite the dual losses, Navy officials emphasised that the survival of all five crew members reflects the success of the service’s intensive training and rescue protocols. “Every life saved today is a testament to the professionalism and coordination of our crews,” Captain Hayes said. “We are grateful that all our sailors are coming home.” Still, the twin crashes mark a sobering moment for naval aviation. The Navy logged its lowest annual aviation mishap rate in history in 2024, a record that is now under renewed scrutiny.

As the investigation continues, the events aboard the Nimitz serve as a stark reminder that even the most advanced fleets and experienced crews operate on the edge of risk, a reality the US Navy confronts daily in some of the world’s most contested waters.