Overview
- An MH-60R Sea Hawk from HSM-73 went down at about 2:45 p.m. local time, and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-22 crashed around 3:15 p.m.
- All five aircrew were recovered in stable condition by search-and-rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11.
- Both aircraft were conducting routine operations from USS Nimitz when they crashed in separate incidents roughly 30 minutes apart.
- The Navy says the causes remain under investigation and has not provided details on weather, mechanical issues, or mission specifics.
- USS Nimitz has been operating in the South China Sea on the return leg of a long deployment that included time in the Middle East.