Recent Military Aircraft Crashes in the South China Sea: Crew Members Rescued and Investigations Underway
Two military aircraft, a Navy fighter jet, and a helicopter crashed in separate incidents in the South China Sea. The MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 "Battle Cats" went down during routine operations, with all three crew members rescued. Shortly after, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter from the Strike Fighter Squadron 22 "Fighting Redcocks" also crashed during routine operations, but its two crew members were safely rescued as well. The U.S. Pacific Fleet reported that all crew members were in stable condition and that investigations into the causes of the crashes were underway.