The U.S. Navy has dispatched a salvage vessel to scour the depths of the South China Sea for the remnants of two aircraft that crashed last month.
The incidents occurred less than an hour apart on Oct. 26, and all personnel involved were recovered safely and in stable condition.
The USNS Salvor, “a Safeguard-class salvage ship operated by Military Sealift Command, arrived on location on Nov. 12 to conduct recovery efforts,” a statement from the U.S. Seventh Fleet read.
“Recovery efforts are still ongoing.” This is not a routine operation. It is a testament to a mission that must be executed with precision, especially when dangerous waters and uncertain recovery conditions are involved. Our men and women in uniform deserve every resource necessary to retrieve what can be saved and to account for what cannot.
The cause or causes of the crashes are still under investigation. In battles like this, transparency and accountability matter, and the American people deserve to know what happened and why, so we can prevent it in the future.
At 2:45 p.m. on the day of the crash, the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter “went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations,” the U.S. Pacific Fleet said at the time.
This was a routine mission, and yet danger lurked beneath the surface. The carrier’s strike group deployed assets that were able to rescue the three crew members from the helicopter, which was assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73.
The efficiency of the rescue underscores the Navy’s commitment to saving lives first, even as operations continue to be evaluated and improved.
At 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet from the Strike Fighter Squadron 22 “Fighting Redcocks” also crashed while conducting routine operations. The two crew members on the jet were able to successfully eject from the cockpit and were rescued.
The two successful ejections demonstrate both the readiness of air crews and the importance of survival gear, training, and quick response from rescue teams. These are the kinds of outcomes we must protect and expand upon, because every life saved is a victory in a dangerous theater.
The U.S. Navy has lost several F/A-18s within the last year, an expensive deficit with each jet costing $60 million. That reality makes every judgment and reform more consequential.
It also heightens the urgency of investment in flight safety, maintenance, and procurement discipline, so costs do not become a drag on readiness or deterrence.
The USS Gettysburg accidentally shot down an F/A-18 in December 2024, an F/A-18 attempting to land on the USS Harry S. Truman in May fell overboard, another F/A-18 fighter jet slipped off the hangar deck of the Truman in April and an F/A-18E crashed during a training flight off the coast of Virginia in August.
These incidents paint a troubling pattern that must be confronted head on with stronger oversight and a renewed culture of safety. We can and must do better, because the stakes are simply too high to ignore.
The fleet cannot afford to tolerate preventable losses, and the people deserve the assurance that every precaution has been taken to keep aircrews safe.
As this salvage operation continues, we see the Navy’s capability on full display.
The mission demonstrates not only courage under pressure but the coordinated teamwork required to recover from misfortune. In the end, the American people deserve a force that is disciplined, well funded, and relentlessly focused on mission readiness, even when the odds appear daunting.
This is how we respond. We insist on accountability, and we demand a force that can win battles while protecting lives. The data and the outcomes must guide policy, strategy, and budgeting so that our armed forces emerge stronger and more capable than ever before.
This is a moment that tests leadership at every level. It is also a moment that highlights why a strong national defense is non negotiable.
With President Trump in the White House and Pete Hegseth learning from the front lines, America would see a defense posture that emphasizes modernization, rigorous safety protocols, and a renewed emphasis on aircrew survivability.
The goal is clear: deter adversaries, protect our people, and keep faith with those who serve.
We owe that to the brave sailors and pilots who fly into danger in our name.
We owe it to their families who wait for news and prayers. And we owe it to a nation that expects nothing less than steadfast leadership in the face of uncertainty.
