Trump says no foul play in Navy aircraft crashes in South China Sea

President Donald Trump said the United States does not suspect foul play in the two separate crashes of U.S. Navy aircraft in the South China Sea over the weekend.

Trump made the statement during a meeting with reporters aboard Air Force One, saying he hoped to get answers soon about the crashes. One possibility he was given was that the planes were running low on fuel, the president said.

“You have been informed of the incident, on the Nimitz, both a fighter jet and a helicopter?” » asked a journalist.

“I’ve heard about it, yes,” Trump replied.

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U.S. President Donald Trump adjusts his jacket after getting off Air Force One upon arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on October 27, 2025. (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)

“Do you know what happened there? What was it?” » asked the journalist.

“They’re going to let me know very soon. I think they should be able to find out. It could be bad fuel. I mean, it’s possible it could be bad fuel. It’s very unusual for that to happen,” Trump said.

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“You don’t think it was foul play or anything?” insisted the journalist.

“No, I don’t,” Trump replied. “They think it might be bad fuel.”

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz approaches a naval base in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Yonhap/Reuters)

Two United States Navy plane of the USS Nimitz – a Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet – crashed Sunday during separate “routine operations” over the South China Sea. All five crew members aboard both craft were rescued and remain in stable condition, according to the Navy.

The US Pacific Fleet – the Navy’s largest operational command – said in a post on (CVN 68).

Search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11operating alongside the Nimitz, quickly initiated recovery efforts and safely removed the helicopter’s three crew members from the water.

The AF/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet is catapulted from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower into the Red Sea February 13. (Reuters) (Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed)

Approximately 30 minutes after the helicopter incident, a F/A-18F Super Hornet Nimitz, assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22, also crashed in the South China Sea during air operations.

Search and rescue teams again responded quickly, recovering the plane’s two crew members, who had successfully ejected before the plane hit the water. Both airmen were returned to the Nimitz and are reported to be in stable condition.

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The USS Nimitz has been in service with the United States Navy for 50 years and its current tour is expected to be its last before its retirement.

Greg Wehner of Fox News contributed to this report.