Washington, December 15, 2025 (Agencies) – The U.S. Navy has successfully recovered an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet that crashed within half an hour of each other from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on October 26. Both aircraft were located and retrieved intact at a depth of about 400 feet on December 5, officials confirmed.
“All recovered aircraft components are being transported to a designated U.S. military installation in the Indo-Pacific region for detailed analysis,” the Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a press release. Exact details of the crash site have not been disclosed.
The recovery operation was conducted by Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73); Task Force 75; the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV); and CTG 73.6’s Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit. A contracted vessel equipped with a government-owned unmanned system was also employed to lift and recover the aircraft.
Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Andersen, who led the salvage mission, praised the joint effort: “Everyone involved brought critical expertise ensuring we could safely and successfully bring these aircraft back under U.S. custody. This operation highlights the importance of naval integration, readiness, and the unmatched capability of our salvage and diving teams.”
The contested nature of the South China Sea and its proximity to China added urgency to the recovery, with U.S. officials stressing the importance of preventing sensitive components from falling into foreign hands. Both aircraft contain advanced systems that would be of interest to global competitors.
The recovery came a day after the Navy released findings into separate losses of three F/A-18s from the USS Truman, including one shot down by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg. Unlike the Nimitz aircraft, those jets were never recovered.
The cause of the October crashes remains unknown. President Donald Trump previously suggested “bad fuel” may have been a factor, though Navy officials have said they believe no “nefarious” circumstances were involved. Investigations into both incidents are continuing.