US Military Helicopter and Fighter Jet Go Down in South China Sea, No Casualties

All personnel involved were retrieved alive.

An MH-60R Seahawk, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, takes off from the flight deck of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on July 10, 2025. Official U.S. Navy photo

A Navy helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet went down in the South China Sea on the afternoon of Oct. 26 in two separate incidents.

The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet made the announcement on X, stating:  “At approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the ‘Battle Cats’ of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations.