Breaking! The U.S. military announces: Two military aircraft on U.S. aircraft carriers crashed one after another in the South China Sea.

According to the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet, two U.S. military aircraft crashed in the South China Sea on October 26, 2025, local time, with all five crew members on board successfully rescued. The cause of the crashes is currently under investigation. 🛫 Incident Overview Both crashes occurred on the afternoon of October 26 and involved aircraft operating on missions from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. First, around 2:45 PM, an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter belonging to the 73rd Helicopter Strike Squadron crashed into the South China Sea. All three crew members on board were successfully rescued. About half an hour later, at approximately 3:15 PM, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from the 22nd Fighter Attack Squadron also crashed while on a mission. The two crew members ejected safely and were subsequently rescued. 🔍 Follow-up Investigation and Historical Background The U.S. military has stated that the causes of these two crashes are under investigation. It is noteworthy that this is not the first accident involving the F/A-18 Super Hornet in recent times. Reports indicate that this marks the sixth loss of this type of aircraft for the U.S. Navy in approximately the past 10 months, including crashes near the Virginia coast in August and in the Red Sea in May. The frequency of incidents involving the same aircraft type in a short period has raised concerns about the reliability of U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft, maintenance levels, and training systems. 🌏 Background and Impact of the Incident This incident occurred in the geopolitically sensitive South China Sea. The frequent activities of U.S. military aircraft in this region have always been a focus of international attention. The consecutive crashes could not only reveal potential issues in U.S. military equipment maintenance or operational processes but also raise questions about regional security. The environmental risks associated with aircraft crashes, such as fuel leaks, and the potential impact on the safety of international shipping lanes are significant issues arising from this incident.