# U.S. Navy

Trump Blames Fuel, Not Firepower, After Two U.S. Warplanes Crash into South China Sea — A Deeper Read on Readiness Risks

President Trump has dismissed claims that two U.S. Navy aircraft lost over the South China Sea were shot down, instead pointing to fuel contamination as the probable cause. The incidents highlight aging carrier infrastructure, strained logistics and rising accident rates that could undermine U.S. carrier readiness and deterrence.