Two Navy aircraft crash in South China Sea; crews from California-based squadrons rescued

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two California-based U.S. Navy craft crashed Sunday successful abstracted incidents portion conducting regular operations from the craft bearer USS Nimitz successful the South China Sea.

An MH-60R Sea Hawk chopper assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, based astatine Naval Air Station North Island adjacent San Diego, went down astatine astir 2:45 p.m. section time.

All 3 unit members were safely recovered by hunt and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11.

About 30 minutes later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet combatant pitchy assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 22, known arsenic the "Fighting Redcocks", and based astatine Naval Air Station Lemoore successful Central California, besides crashed successful the waters portion operating from the Nimitz.

Both unit members ejected and were rescued, the connection said.

The Navy adds each 5 unit progressive successful the crashes are harmless and the origin of the crashes is present nether investigation.

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