In a shocking sequence of events, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter crashed within only thirty minutes over the South China Sea on Sunday afternoon. Both aircraft had launched from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which is currently returning to Washington State’s Naval Base Kitsap after completing its final mission. According to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the two pilots of the Super Hornet ejected safely, while three crew members from the Seahawk were quickly rescued. All five servicemen are reported to be in stable condition. The Navy has begun a detailed investigation into the causes of both incidents. The Nimitz, one of the oldest operational U.S. aircraft carriers, had previously been deployed to the Middle East in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. This is not the first such accident aboard a U.S. Navy carrier.