‘Conducting routine ops’: US Navy helicopter, fighter jet go down in South China Sea; key details

A US Navy chopper and a combatant pitchy crashed separately during regular operations implicit the South China Sea connected Sunday, with nary fatalities reported. The incidents coincided with US President Donald Trump’s sojourn to the portion for the Asean Summit successful Kuala Lumpur.According to the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet, the archetypal clang progressive an MH-60R Sea Hawk chopper that “went down successful the waters of South China Sea portion conducting regular operations from the craft bearer USS Nimitz.” All 3 unit members aboard were rescued by hunt and rescue teams, the connection said.

Roughly 30 minutes later, a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet combatant pitchy besides crashed into the South China Sea “while conducting regular operations” from the aforesaid carrier.

Both unit members successfully ejected and were safely recovered, the US navy confirmed.The US navy said connected societal media Sunday evening that the MH-60R Seahawk, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down astir 2:45pm section time. “Search-and-rescue crews rescued 3 unit members,” the connection said.At 3:15pm, an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 besides went down portion conducting regular operations from the USS Nimitz.

“All unit progressive are harmless and successful unchangeable condition,” the US navy said. “The origin of some incidents is presently nether investigation.”The crashes took spot arsenic US President Trump embarked connected a diplomatic circuit crossed Asia, wherever helium is scheduled to conscionable Chinese person Xi Jinping for discussions centered connected trade. Relations betwixt Washington and Beijing person been tense successful caller weeks aft some sides imposed caller economical measures connected each other.These incidents travel the nonaccomplishment of 2 Super Hornet jets successful the Red Sea earlier this spring. Each F/A-18 combatant pitchy costs implicit $60 million, according to the Navy. CNN reported that the USS Nimitz -- among the world’s largest warships -- is the oldest US craft bearer successful work and is acceptable for status adjacent year.Earlier this year, 2 US warplanes besides fell disconnected the USS Harry S Truman craft bearer portion operating successful the Middle East.