The Navy is investigating the fuel supply of aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) as a possible cause for two U.S. aircraft crashes in the South China Sea, President Donald Trump told reporters during a press gaggle on Monday.

Both aircraft were on routine flight operations, the Navy said, when they went down in the South China Sea only 30 minutes apart.

WASHINGTON — A fighter jet and a helicopter based off the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz both crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other on Sunday afternoon, the Navy’s Pacific Fleet said.

Ship collisions are dramatic, but most vessels don’t sink even after severe damage. This episode uncovers the secrets behind modern ship safety, including watertight bulkheads, double hulls, and the science of damage stability.

New Zealand's government has paid Samoa 10m Samoan Tala (NZD 6m; £2.6m) after one of its naval ships crashed into a reef in Samoan waters before catching fire and sinking last year. HMNZS Manawanui started leaking oil into the ocean after it sank, with reports of sea turtles dying and slicks appearing on nearby Samoan beaches.

All personnel involved were safe, and the causes of the two crashes were under investigation, the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet said.