In two separate incidents, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet and a US Navy Hornet helicopter crashed into the South China Sea while conducting routine operations over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.
According to a statement from the US Pacific Fleet, the Seahawk helicopter belonging to the 73rd HSM Squadron crashed at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, and all three crew members were safely rescued by search and rescue teams from the 11th Fleet.
Just 30 minutes later at 3:15, a Super Hornet fighter jet belonging to VFA-22 Squadron also crashed, and its two pilots were rescued and are reported to be in stable condition.
An aviation safety investigation has been initiated to investigate the technical and operational causes, and Nimitz’s operations continue uninterrupted
