US Navy – Search Suspended for Sailor Missing After Arabian Sea Helicopter Crash
US Navy – The United States Navy has ended its active search for a sailor who went missing after an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea. The decision came after more than four days of search-and-rescue efforts involving naval ships, aircraft and helicopter units operating in the region.
The sailor was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, which was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. The crew member was reported missing after the helicopter entered the water on July 1. Navy officials said the search was formally called off at 3 p.m. Arabian Standard Time on July 5.
Navy Withholds Sailor’s Identity
In its statement, the Navy said the sailor’s name would not be released until notification procedures for family members had been completed. The service follows a policy requiring at least 24 hours to pass after next-of-kin notification before identifying personnel involved in such incidents.
Officials said the search continued for more than 102 hours and covered an area exceeding 14,000 square miles within the US Central Command region. The operation was carried out across a large stretch of water, with multiple military units joining the effort.
Carriers and Aircraft Join Rescue Mission
The search involved personnel and equipment from the USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Abraham Lincoln, along with several helicopter squadrons and carrier air wings. The Navy also deployed guided-missile destroyers, including the USS Ross, USS Donald Cook, USS Higgins, USS Mason and USS John Finn.
P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and several US Air Force aircraft were also used during the mission. These assets were tasked with scanning the sea and surrounding airspace in an effort to locate the missing sailor.
The Navy has not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the helicopter’s emergency water landing. It said the incident was not believed to be connected to hostile activity.
Emergency Water Landing Reported on July 1
The helicopter was assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush when it went down in the Arabian Sea. The US 5th Fleet said the aircrew carried out an emergency water landing at around 3:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 1.
At the time, military officials said there was no evidence to suggest the aircraft had been brought down by enemy fire or any other hostile action. The Navy later repeated that there was no indication the emergency had been caused by an attack.
Three of the four people aboard the MH-60S helicopter were recovered after the incident. Navy officials said those crew members were taken aboard the USS George H.W. Bush and were listed in stable condition.
Regional Deployment Remains Under Watch
The USS George H.W. Bush is among the US aircraft carriers deployed in West Asia since late April, according to reports cited by CBS News. The region has seen increased military activity in recent months as US forces continue operations linked to wider regional tensions.
CBS News also reported that the US military had lost dozens of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, a campaign launched against Iran at the end of February. In a separate incident earlier in June, an Apache helicopter was reportedly downed by an Iranian drone, though both crew members were rescued.
The Navy has not announced whether additional recovery efforts related to the missing sailor or the helicopter will continue. Its latest statement focused on the conclusion of the active search phase after the extensive multinational military effort in the Arabian Sea.