U.S. military suspends search for sailor who went missing in Arabian Sea

2 hours ago 18

The United States subject said it has suspended its hunt for a missing sailor who was aboard a chopper that went down successful the Arabian Sea past week.

"The efforts concluded pursuing an extended hunt by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force successful the U.S. Central Command country of responsibility," said the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command successful a statement Sunday morning. The suspension volition officially instrumentality effect Sunday afternoon, the bid said.

The sailor went missing July 1, erstwhile the unit of a MH-60S Sea Hawk chopper were rescued astatine oversea pursuing an "emergency h2o landing" successful the Arabian Sea, the Navy said at the time. Three members of the helicopter's four-person unit were rescued and returned to the USS George H.W. Bush, to which the chopper was assigned.

Authorities bash not program to publically merchandise the missing sailor's sanction until the individual's next-of-kin person been notified, and astatine slightest 24 hours walk aft the notification time, the Navy said.

Military crews searched for much than 102 hours successful hopes of locating the missing sailor, the bid said. The cognition covered much than 14,000 quadrate miles and progressive aggregate craft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, chopper squadrons, anti-submarine squadrons and U.S. Air Force aircraft, according to the Navy.

There was "no indication" that the chopper was changeable down by hostile action, according to the military.

The USS George H.W. Bush is 1 of 2 craft carriers that remains successful the Middle East, having been determination since precocious April. As of mid-May, erstwhile an update was past provided to Congress, the U.S. had mislaid 42 fixed-wing oregon rotor craft successful Operation Epic Fury — the U.S. subject run launched against Iran astatine the extremity of February.

A U.S. Apache chopper was shot down by an Iranian drone successful aboriginal June, carrying 2 unit members who were some rescued.

Mark Osborne contributed to this report.

In: