India, Oct. 27 -- A US Navy helicopter crashed into the water in the South China Sea on Saturday during what Washington called "routine operations".

According to a Navy statement on Sunday, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the "Battle Cats" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down in the South China Sea.

"On October 26, 2025, at approximately 2:45 PM local time, a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the "Battle Cats" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting routine operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11 safely recovered all three crew members," t...