The U.S. Navy has successfully recovered an F/A-18F Super Hornet and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter that crashed into the South China Sea while operating from the USS Nimitz in October. The recovery operation, which took place at a depth of approximately 400 feet, involved expertise from various naval task forces and highlighted the importance of naval integration and readiness. All crew members involved in the incidents survived, and the components of the aircraft are being sent to a U.S. military installation in the Indo-Pacific for further analysis. This incident underscores the ongoing operational challenges in the region, particularly as the Nimitz prepares for decommissioning and as tensions remain high in the South China Sea.