BEIJING: A US Navy helicopter and a fighter jet experienced separate crashes in the South China Sea within an hour during routine operations launched from the same aircraft carrier, according to the U.S. Navy. Fortunately, all personnel involved were reported safe.
The incidents occurred while President Donald Trump was on an official visit to Asia. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One on Monday, President Trump described the crashes as unusual and suggested that “bad fuel” might be a contributing factor, stating that the exact cause would likely be determined soon.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that “all personnel involved are safe and in stable condition,” and that investigations into both incidents are ongoing. The statement did not specify the location of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which was conducting routine operations at the time.
China’s Foreign Ministry extended humanitarian assistance to the United States following the crashes, spokesperson Guo Jiakun announced during a press briefing on Monday.
According to the Navy, a Sea Hawk helicopter went down around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, shortly followed by an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet also crashing in the South China Sea.
President Trump is scheduled to visit Tokyo and will wrap up his trip with a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
