“The three crew members of the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter were rescued and the two aircrews of the F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter ejected and were safely recovered. All five are safe and in stable condition,” the fleet said in a statement, adding that the cause of the two crashes has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
“South China Sea – On October 26, 2025, at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter belonging to the 73rd Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) Battle Cats crashed in South China Sea waters while performing routine operations,” the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a post on X.
The USS Nimitz has returned to its home port at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, after being deployed to the Middle East for much of the summer as part of the U.S. response to the Yemeni military’s commercial shipping operations.
The aircraft carrier is in its final stage of deployment before being retired.
MNA/