Trump: No Foul Play in Navy Aircraft Crashes in South China Sea

The incidents could have been caused by ‘bad fuel,’ the president said.

An MH-60R Sea Hawk, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Aug. 26, 2025. Official U.S. Navy photo

No foul play is suspected in the Oct. 26 crashes of two U.S. Navy aircraft in the South China Sea, President Donald Trump told reporters on Oct. 27.

In two separate incidents, the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 11 lost a helicopter and a fighter jet in the South China Sea, with no casualties.