Three crew members from a U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter were rescued after an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea, but one aircrewman remains missing.
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said there is no indication the helicopter was shot down by hostile action. The aircraft is assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, and the rescued crew members are in stable condition aboard the carrier.
What Happened at Sea
The incident took place at about 3:30 a.m. Eastern time, which would have been around 11 a.m. local time. Navy assets in the region are continuing the search for the fourth crew member, according to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea while operating in a region where the U.S. still maintains a sizable military presence. The USS George H.W. Bush has been in the Middle East since late April and is one of two aircraft carriers remaining in the region.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter |
| Location | Arabian Sea |
| Crew status | 3 rescued, 1 missing |
| Assigned ship | USS George H.W. Bush |
| Military assessment | No indication of hostile action |
Broader Military Context
www.cbsnews.com reported that the U.S. had lost 42 fixed-wing or rotor aircraft in Operation Epic Fury as of mid-May, the last time an update was given to Congress. That count does not include a U.S. Apache helicopter shot down by an Iranian drone in early June.
The two crew members on that Apache were rescued, and the incident prompted U.S. self-defense strikes against Iran. The Navy has not said whether the missing crew member from the Sea Hawk has been located.