In two separate incidents on Sunday, a Navy fighter jet and a helicopter crashed in the South China Sea, as reported by the Navy. Fortunately, crew members from both aircraft were successfully rescued.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet detailed that an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, part of the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, known as the “Battle Cats,” went down at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time during routine operations.
According to a statement shared on X by the Pacific Fleet, all three crew members from the helicopter were safely rescued.
Roughly 30 minutes after the helicopter incident, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from the Strike Fighter Squadron 22, the “Fighting Redcocks,” also crashed while performing routine operations. The two crew members onboard ejected and were promptly rescued by search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11.
The Pacific Fleet confirmed that all crew members involved in both crashes are in stable condition.
Investigations are currently underway to determine the causes of these incidents.
About 30 minutes later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter from the Strike Fighter Squadron 22 “Fighting Redcocks” also crashed while conducting routine operations, the fleet said. Its two crew members ejected and were rescued by search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11.
The Pacific Fleet said all crew members were in stable condition.
It said the causes of the crashes were under investigation.
