United States Navy (USN) officials confirmed on June 17th, 2013 that in an extensive salvage operation they have recovered two aircraft — a fighter jet and helicopter — which had fallen into the South China Sea this year off of USS Nimitz and crashed. Both planes were located alive from approximately 400 feet beneath the surface, saving valuable military technology while protecting against potential adversary access. (Sources: Aviationist +2 and Stars and Stripes +2).
What Happened
On October 26th 2025 during routine international operations off of Nimitz’s aircraft wing, two losses occurred simultaneously: first an MH-60R Seahawk carrying three crew members went down, followed approximately 30 minutes later by an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet with two crew. (Polito + The Aviationist).
Nimitz Group search-and-rescue units responded quickly and successfully rescued five service personnel who are reported to be in stable condition, according to Politico and AP News reports.
Recovery Operation
Wreckage was successfully located and secured on December 5, 2025 – less than two months after its crashes – thanks to Navy specialized salvage teams like SUPSALV (Supervisor of Salvage and Diving), Task Force 73, and Mobile Diving and Salvage Units, working from a heavy lift vessel equipped with an unmanned lift system. From Defence Blog: Military and Defense News.
At an average depth of 400 feet and with rapid recovery efforts underway, this aircraft was successfully recovered with all classified components intact and undisturbed, helping ensure their protection against falling into unauthorised hands. After recovery it has been sent for analysis at U.S. military facilities located within Indo-Pacific regions Maritime Executive. EURASIAN TIMES also reported on it
According to Navy officials, this mission was an impressive display of teamwork from U.S. naval forces — showing their full readiness, coordination and deep-water salvage capabilities even in regions with high surveillance and near constant maritime tension.
Defence Blog – Military and Defence News
The Aviationist2
Recovery of Wreckage Recovering of Wreckage Has Strategic Significance
Wreck recovery carries immense strategic significance in an area like the South China Sea that is heavily monitored by rival powers including People’s Republic of China who maintain extensive sensor networks, surveillance platforms and salvage capabilities in that region. Had sensitive U.S. technologies been left at the bottom, these could have been salvaged and exploited as exploitable materials by them (defence blog- Military and Defense News).
By quickly retrieving these wrecks, the U.S. Navy effectively prevented potential foreign access to advanced military systems — particularly its sophisticated radar and electronic-warfare capabilities aboard Super Hornet and Seahawk aircraft, which remain at the cutting-edge of carrier-borne aviation. (Source: EURASIAN TIMES).
Aeronews Journal
Additionally, this successful salvage highlights U.S. commitment to maintaining operational security and technological edge in areas with rival naval deployments, particularly contested maritime zones where rival fleets frequently shadow American naval deployments. And now what’s next? A thorough investigation and lessons learned should follow suit.

Though both aircraft have been recovered, their causes remain under investigation by Navy officials. According to Aviationist reports, all components will undergo extensive forensic analyses in order to ascertain what went wrong and identify lessons that can improve safety and operations going forward.
Restoring public trust in carrier-based operations that have recently come under scrutiny due to a series of mishaps across different fleets can only come through swift recovery and open disclosure, yet at the same time this incident underscores the inherent risks and high stakes involved with operating advanced military platforms in contested, closely watched waters.