U.S. Navy MH-60 Helicopter Crashes Into Arabian Sea, Crew Member Missing
Three crew members were rescued after the emergency water landing, while an intensive search continues for the missing sailor.
ARABIAN SEA — A U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter has gone down in the Arabian Sea, leaving one crew member missing as search and rescue operations continue.
According to the U.S. Navy, the helicopter made an emergency water landing while operating in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. The aircraft was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and had four crew members on board at the time of the incident.
Three crew members were successfully rescued and are reported to be in stable condition. The fourth crew member remains unaccounted for, prompting an extensive search involving U.S. Navy aircraft, helicopters and surface vessels.
Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) said there is currently no indication that hostile action caused the helicopter to go down. Officials have not disclosed what led to the emergency water landing, and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause.
The incident occurred as the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group continues operations in the Middle East under the U.S. Fifth Fleet, which oversees naval operations across the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and surrounding waters.
Search and rescue efforts remain ongoing, with Navy personnel working to locate the missing service member. Authorities have not yet released the identities of any of the crew members, pending notification of their families.
The MH-60S Seahawk is a multi-mission helicopter used by the U.S. Navy for combat support, logistics, search and rescue, medical evacuation and humanitarian operations. The aircraft is widely deployed aboard U.S. warships around the world.
The crash comes amid heightened U.S. military operations in the region, although officials have stressed that there is no evidence linking the incident to hostile activity. The investigation into the cause of the emergency landing is continuing.
