The United States Navy confirmed on Monday that it had “successfully recovered” the F/A-18F Super Hornet jet multirole fighter and MH-60R Seahawk helicopter that had crashed into the South China Sea in late October. Those aircraft were lost in two separate incidents just 30 minutes apart while operating from USS Nimitz (CVN-68). The pilot and weapons system officer (WSO) from the Super Hornet, and all seven crewmembers from the MH-60R, were safely rescued.

CVN-68, the US Navy’s oldest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is now on its final deployment and was returning from the Middle East, where it had operated since late summer.

According to the US Navy, the recovery effort “was conducted by Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73); Task Force 75; the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV); and CTG 73.6’s Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit.”

The USS George Washington (CVN-73), the US Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, aided the recovery efforts last week, which were led by the........

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