Navy Halts Search for Missing Sailor After Helicopter Incident in Arabian Sea

The United States Navy has called off the active search for a sailor who disappeared last Wednesday.

The sailor went missing after an MH-60S helicopter crashed in the Arabian Sea. The search efforts, which were extensive, were officially concluded early Sunday morning.

“Following a thorough search by both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force in the U.S. Central Command region, the search has concluded,” the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command announced via social media. “In line with Navy policy, the sailor’s name will remain undisclosed until 24 hours after their next-of-kin have been informed.”

The missing sailor was part of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 and was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, according to the U.S. 5th Fleet. The Navy announced that the search was suspended at 8 a.m. Eastern Time (3 p.m. Arabian Standard Time) on Sunday.

“For more than 102 hours, an extensive and coordinated search and rescue effort spanning over 14,000 square miles was conducted,” the U.S. 5th Fleet wrote in a statement.

Navy and Air Force assets involved in the search included aircraft from Carrier Air Wings 7 and 9, helicopter squadrons from the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln, two P-8 Poseidon squadrons, and multiple U.S. Air Force aircraft.

Several Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers also joined the operation, including the USS Ross, USS Donald Cook, USS Higgins, USS Mason and USS John Finn.

MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea early at about 3:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Three of the helicopter’s four crew members were successfully recovered and were in stable condition aboard the Bush, according to officials.

Military officials said there is no indication the emergency landing was the result of “hostile action.”

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.