US Navy Suspends Search For Sailor Involved In Helicopter Crash Near Strait Of Hormuz

The U.S. Navy suspended the active search for a missing sailor from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on Sun (July 5), following an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday.

On Wednesday at about 3:30 a.m. ET (0730 UTC), the MH-60S helicopter conducted an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea while operating under the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. US Navy has been escorting ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz near Omani corridor. This has been a flashpoint since the US-Israel-Iran war, as Iran insists on controlling transit through the strait, accusing the US of breaking both countries' memorandum of understanding.

According to a statement by US Naval Forces Central Command, there is no indication the MH-60S helicopter emergency landing on July 1, was caused by hostile action, and the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

Three crew members were recovered shortly after the incident and remained aboard the carrier in stable condition. The search for the remaining MH-60S helicopter crewmember, which lasted over 102 hours and covered 14,000 square miles, concluded after three of the four crew members were rescued and found in stable condition, while the fourth remains missing.

The extensive search effort involved the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, including aircraft from Carrier Air Wings 7 and 9, helicopter squadrons from the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), two P-8 Poseidon squadrons, and multiple Air Force aircraft. Several Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers also participated, including the USS Ross, USS Donald Cook, USS Higgins, USS Mason, and USS John Finn.

The identity of the missing sailor is being withheld until at least 24 hours after next-of-kin notification is complete, per Navy policy.