On October 26, 2025, the US Pacific Fleet confirmed that two US military aircraft belonging to the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group had successively fallen into the sea while performing routine tasks in the South China Sea. According to the latest reports, the first one was the MH-60R Seahawk multi-purpose helicopter. The second one is the F/A-18F “Super Hornet” fighter jet. The two accidents occurred less than 30 minutes apart. Fortunately, all five crew members on board were successfully rescued and are currently in stable condition.
Event time and location
According to a statement released by the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, the accident occurred on the afternoon of October 26, 2025, in the international waters of the South China Sea, which is within the routine patrol area of the US Seventh Fleet. The first accident occurred at around 14:45 local time when an MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter belonging to the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier crashed into the sea while conducting sea flight training. About 30 minutes later, A second accident occurred one after another. An F/A-18F “Super Hornet” fighter jet crashed while on patrol in the same area.
The Pacific Fleet Command stated that after the helicopters and fighter jets crashed into the sea, the US military immediately initiated emergency search and rescue procedures, with multiple vessels and helicopters participating in the rescue efforts. All five crew members were quickly located and successfully rescued. They have now returned to the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier for medical examinations and are currently out of danger.
Official response and initial investigation
Colonel Christopher Watson, a spokesperson for the US Navy, said at a press conference that both accidents occurred under complex weather conditions, but it is still impossible to confirm that the crashes were directly related to meteorological factors. He emphasized: “The current focus is on personnel safety and equipment recovery. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the US Navy Aviation Safety Center.”
According to internal reports from the US military, the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter was conducting shipborne take-off and landing training when it crashed, while the F/A-18F Super Hornet was carrying out routine air patrol and communication exercises. Preliminary investigations show that there are no signs of mutual interference or collision between the two military aircraft. The accidents may have been caused by mechanical failures or abnormal flight control systems, respectively.
At present, the US military has dispatched a diving rescue team to the crash area to confirm the location of the wreckage and recover the onboard data recorder (black box) for subsequent analysis.
Political significance
This accident has drawn widespread attention from the international community. The reasons are not only the rarity of consecutive crashes within a short period of time, but also the fact that the incident site is located in the strategically sensitive South China Sea.
The South China Sea has long been the focus of territorial and navigation rights disputes among multiple countries. The US aircraft carrier strike groups frequently carry out “freedom of navigation” operations in this sea area. The mission of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier was originally part of a routine cruise, aiming to “demonstrate the continued presence and deterrence capabilities of the US military in the Indo-Pacific region”.
Analysts point out that the two plane crashes may trigger discussions on the safety of the US military’s maritime and air forces and could also become a new variable in military interactions between China and the United States. An insider from the US Department of Defense disclosed to the media that the Pentagon is assessing whether to temporarily reduce the intensity of aircraft carrier operations to prevent similar accidents from happening again.
Model introduction and technical details
The MH-60R “Sea Eagle” helicopter, manufactured by Sikorsky Corporation, is one of the most advanced multi-purpose anti-submarine and search and rescue helicopters of the US military. It has the capabilities of night flight, radar search, and ship-to-ship communication, and is widely deployed on aircraft carriers and destroyers. The aircraft is equipped with three crew members and is capable of performing anti-submarine, maritime patrol, and transportation tasks.
The F/A-18F “Super Hornet” fighter jet, manufactured by Boeing, is the main carrier-based aircraft of the US Navy. It has A two-seat configuration and a maximum flight speed of up to 1.8 Mach, possessing dual capabilities of air combat and ground strike. It is also one of the aircraft types on the USS Nimitz that carry out missions most frequently.
Experts believe that although both aircraft are mature models, long-term high-intensity use and the humid and hot Marine environment may lead to the aging of key components. In addition, the complex air currents and high humidity conditions in the South China Sea region may be potential risk factors.
International response
As of now, the US Department of Defense has not disclosed whether it will adjust the pace of its operations in the South China Sea. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said that it is hoped that relevant countries will respect the sovereignty and security concerns of regional countries and avoid triggering new risks and misjudgments.
The Japanese Defense Ministry said it has been closely monitoring the changes in the situation in the South China Sea and reaffirmed its cooperative relationship with the United States on security affairs.
International public opinion generally holds that the two plane crashes once again highlight the risks of conducting military operations in highly sensitive geographical areas. The Guardian of the UK commented: “Such accidents remind people that even the world’s most powerful navy cannot eliminate accidents.”
Military and public opinion influence
From a military perspective, the accident will not have a significant impact on the overall combat capabilities of the US military for the time being, but it will cause short-term disruption to the execution efficiency of the Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group.
The US media pointed out that the USS Nimitz is in the final stage of its service life and is expected to be decommissioned before 2026. This accident may prompt the Navy to accelerate the update of carrier-based aircraft and aircraft carrier equipment.
From the perspective of public opinion, although all the people were rescued and a greater tragedy was avoided, the crash of the two military aircraft in a short period of time inevitably raised public doubts. Some American netizens left comments on social media platforms saying that the US military operates too frequently overseas and should enhance security management and technical maintenance instead of “masking risks with speed”.
Future outlook
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to complete the initial investigation report within several weeks. Analysts believe that if the investigation results show that it is related to maintenance negligence or aging aircraft models, it may prompt the US military to re-examine the deployment model of aircraft carrier aviation forces.
Meanwhile, experts point out that the political impact of the US military plane crash far exceeds the accident itself.
Against the backdrop of the current delicate situation in the South China Sea and fierce competition among regional powers, this incident may be interpreted by all parties as a “risk symbol under the high-intensity military presence of the United States”.
Conclusion
Two US military aircraft crashed into the South China Sea one after another. Although no casualties were caused, it has sounded the alarm for the world. In a complex geopolitical and high-risk military environment, any flight mission may evolve into an international event.
When the world’s attention is focused on the South China Sea, this aerial accident not only tests the technical capabilities and adaptability of the US military, but also prompts people to reconsider, in the realm of power competition, between security and strategy, which one should be given priority?
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