A US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crashed separately into the South China Sea within the space of an hour during routine operations from the same aircraft carrier on Sunday.The US Navy said, adding that all personnel were safe.
The incidents occurred while President Donald Trump was visiting Asia. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump said the crashes were unusual and could be due to “bad fuel,” adding that the cause would likely be known soon.
The US Pacific Fleet, in a post on the X social network, said: “All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition. The cause of both incidents is under investigation.” The location of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, from which both the helicopter and the fighter were conducting routine operations, was not revealed.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry offered humanitarian aid to the United States after the accidents, its spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press conference on Monday. A Sea Hawk helicopter went down around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday and shortly after, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter also crashed in the South China Sea, the US Navy reported.
Trump heads to Tokyo and will conclude his trip at a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinpingon Thursday.
