US Navy Helicopter Goes Down In Arabian Sea, One Airman Missing

Last Updated:July 01, 2026, 23:53 IST

The helicopter, assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, was forced to conduct the emergency landing at around 3:30 a.m., according to the US 5th Fleet.

A United States Navy airman is missing after an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea early Wednesday, US Naval Forces Central Command said.

The helicopter, assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, was forced to conduct the emergency landing at around 3:30 a.m., according to the US 5th Fleet.

“Three of the helicopter’s four crew members have been recovered and are in stable condition aboard George H. W. Bush," US Naval Forces Central Command said.

“U.S. Navy assets in the region are currently searching for [the] other aircrewman still missing."

The military said there is “no indication" the helicopter was brought down by hostile action.

“There is no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action," officials wrote on X.

The Navy said a search operation is continuing for the missing crew member. The incident remains under investigation.

The USS George H.W. Bush has been deployed to the Middle East since late April and is one of two US aircraft carriers currently operating in the region. Although the United States has ended its blockade on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, it continues to maintain a significant military presence in the area.

As of mid-May, the US had informed Congress that it had lost 42 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, according to the latest update provided at the time.

The tally did not include a US Apache helicopter that was brought down by an Iranian drone in early June. Both crew members were rescued after that incident, which was followed by US “self-defense strikes" against Iran.

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