US Navy Launches Search Operation After MH-60S Gone Missing In Arabian Sea, Three Rescued
The US Navy's 5th Fleet said in a statement that the naval ships and other assets deployed in the area are searching for the missing aircrew member.
Washington: A US Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea on Wednesday while making an emergency water landing, the US military said in a statement. One American service member is missing and three other crew members were injured, but their condition is stable.
Where did the incident happen?
The US Navy's 5th Fleet said in a statement that the incident happened on Wednesday at 3:30 an EDT. The statement further stated that the naval ships and other assets deployed in the area were searching for the missing aircrew member. The helicopter was currently assigned to the USS George H W Bush Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
"US Navy assets in the region are currently searching for other crew members still missing," the statement read. “The cause of the incident is under investigation.”
On July 1 at 3:30 a.m. ET, the aircrew of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) conducted an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea. There is no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action. Three of the helicopter’s four crew…
— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) July 1, 2026
What did the military say?
The military has clarified that no hostile action appears to be behind the accident. Helicopter water landings can be dangerous, as top-heavy aircraft can capsize in the water. US forces in the region are already on alert, as violence has occasionally flared despite a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
A rescue operation was launched immediately after the accident, and the three crew members were safely transported to the aircraft carrier. Their condition is currently stable.
