The United States Navy is investigating two aircraft accidents that occurred less than 30 minutes apart in the South China Sea.
A MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter, both operating from the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, crashed during routine operations on Sunday. All five personnel on board were safely rescued, according to the Pacific Fleet.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the cause could be related to contaminated fuel, describing the situation as “very unusual.” He dismissed sabotage as a possibility, while the Navy also reported that there is no evidence of criminal action at this time. Fuel quality analysis is part of the standard protocol in such investigations.
The USS Nimitz is conducting its final mission before decommissioning scheduled for next year and was returning to the state of Washington after operations in the Middle East. Authorities emphasize that carrier-based flight operations have specific fueling conditions, highlighting the need for a thorough investigation.
Results regarding the cause of the accidents are expected to take several weeks or months to be completed.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @USNavy | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
🇺🇸 The moment a U.S. Navy F/A-18 yeeted itself into the South China Sea after launching from the Nimitz. pic.twitter.com/Sm9PxHA0jb
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 28, 2025
