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| Date: | Sunday 26 October 2025 |
| Time: | c. 15:15 LT |
| Type: |  Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet |
| Owner/operator: | US Navy (USN), VFA-22 |
| Registration: | |
| MSN: | F... |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | South China Sea -
 Pacific Ocean
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | USS Nimitz (CVN-68) |
| USS Nimitz (CVN-68) | |
| Investigating agency: | USAF AIB |
A US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, operated by Strike Fighter Squadron 22 (VFA-22) "Fighting Redcocks" flying off of the USS Nimitz, coded NA-1.., crashed under unknown circumstances into South Chinese Sea. It has been reported that the USN are looking into contaminated fuel as a possible cause of the incident.
Both pilots ejected safely using the US14A (NACES) ejections seats, and were recovered by rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11.
Sources:
https://bnonews.com/index.php/2025/10/u-s-navy-helicopter-and-fighter-jet-crash-in-south-china-sea-all-crew-rescued/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fa-18-sea-hawk-helicopter-crash-south-china-sea/
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/26/super-hornet-helicopter-assigned-to-uss-nimitz-crash-in-south-china-sea-in-separate-incidents-crew-safe
https://theaviationist.com/2025/10/27/uss-nimitz-loses-sea-hawk-and-super-hornet/
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-nimitz-fa18-helicopter-crash/
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/27/navy-probes-uss-nimitz-fuel-supply-after-crashes-trump-points-to-bad-fuel
Media:
of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations from Nimitz. Both crew members successfully ejected and were also safely recovered by search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11.
— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) October 26, 2025
On Sunday 26th October, an F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-22 crashed in the South China Sea.
— Martin-Baker (@MB_EjectEject) October 27, 2025
Both pilots successfully ejected using the US14A (NACES) Ejection Seat.#EngineeringForLife pic.twitter.com/YvcIdnUyze
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Oct-2025 00:05 | Justanormalperson | Added |
| 27-Oct-2025 01:48 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Phase, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 27-Oct-2025 17:05 | Paradoxial | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 28-Oct-2025 15:35 | Paradoxial | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
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