Two US Navy aircraft went down in the South China Sea in separate incidents on Sunday, according to the US Pacific Fleet.
It said all crew members in both incidents were successfully recovered by search and rescue units.
The first incident involved a US Navy MH-60RC Sea Hawk helicopter, which went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations, the US Pacific Fleet said in a statement. Posted on x,
All three crew members were rescued in the incident that occurred around 2:45 pm local time on Sunday.
About half an hour later, the US Pacific Fleet said an F/A Super Hornet fighter assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22 was also downed while conducting routine operations from the USS Nimitz. The helicopter that had fallen before this also belonged to Nimitz.
The US Pacific Fleet said both crew members ejected successfully and were safely recovered by search and rescue teams.
These incidents occurred while President Trump is on a trip to Asia. He was leaving Malaysia on Monday and going to Japan.
Pacific Fleet said all personnel involved in both incidents are safe and in stable condition. It said both incidents are under investigation.
