US Navy Launches Operation to Recover Crashed Aircraft from South China Sea | World News

The US Navy has launched a massive rescue operation to remove two planes that crashed in the South China Sea, amid concerns that the wreckage could give China access to sensitive military technology, CNN reported.

According to CNN, F/A-18 Super Hornet and MH-60 helicopter were shot down half an hour apart during routine operations involving the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in late October.

Although the cause of the incidents has not been officially determined, US President Donald Trump told reporters shortly after that “dirty fuel may be the culprit.” All personnel on board were rescued safely.

A Navy spokesman confirmed to CNN that a rescue ship was currently conducting rescue efforts, but did not disclose the exact crash site or ship’s location.

“USNS SALVOR (T-ARS 52), a Safeguard-class rescue ship operated by the Military Sealift Command, is conducting operations at the scene in support of recovery efforts,” the commander said. said Matthew Comer, US 7th Fleet.

Documents cited by CNN show that Salvor can lift up to 300 tons from the seabed. The latest F/A-18 variants at Nimitz weigh about 33 tons at maximum takeoff, while the MH-60 helicopter weighs about 11 tons.

While not the Navy’s most advanced platforms, the aircraft could provide valuable intelligence if captured by an enemy, military analysts told CNN.

Carl Schuster, former director of operations for the U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, said recovering the wreckage of an American jet “will provide valuable information about its technological strengths and how to defeat it tactically.”

Schuster noted that no F/A-18s have fallen into Chinese hands, adding that such access could help Beijing develop carrier-based J-15T aircraft, which are not considered as advanced as American fighter jets.

He also noted that the MH-60 is equipped with anti-submarine warfare systems beyond China’s own capabilities. “China is currently prioritizing the development of anti-submarine warfare systems. Therefore, the recovery of the helicopter should be a high priority,” he said.

CNN reported that it could not confirm whether China was trying to reach the crash sites. Beijing maintains sweeping claims to the South China Sea and ignores an international court ruling rejecting those claims.

CNN recalled that the current US operation mirrors a 2022 rescue effort in which an F-35 fighter jet was successfully lifted from a depth of 12,400 feet after crashing while trying to land on the USS Carl Vinson.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to the latest accidents by saying it could provide humanitarian aid if necessary.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun also criticized US activities in the region, stating that the accidents occurred during what he called “US military exercises”.

“The USA shows its power by frequently sending military ships and aircraft to the South China Sea. This is the main reason for the security problems at sea and the deterioration of regional peace and stability.”

Schuster warned that China’s proximity to the crash site could give it a “home advantage” and told CNN that Beijing could move to thwart US rescue efforts “if possible.”

China’s vast territorial claims and growing military infrastructure threaten freedom of navigation in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes, CNN said, adding that the United States continues to maintain a strong military presence in the region.