A US Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea early Wednesday morning, leaving one crew member missing while three others were rescued, according to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The incident occurred at 3:30 a.m. EST, and there is no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action, Central Command confirmed. The three rescued crew members are in stable condition aboard the USS George H. W. Bush. U.S. Navy assets in the region are conducting a search operation for the missing crew member.
Ongoing Search and Investigation
The cause of the incident remains under investigation. The USS George H. W. Bush aircraft carrier, which has been deployed in the Middle East since late April, is one of only two aircraft carriers currently stationed in the region. Despite the U.S. lifting its blockade of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a substantial American military presence continues in the area.
Recent Military Aircraft Losses
The most recent Operation Epic Fury update presented to Congress noted that the U.S. had lost 42 fixed-wing or rotor aircraft, according to CBS. This figure does not account for the U.S. Apache helicopter shot down by an Iranian drone in early June. President Donald Trump confirmed the attack on June 9, writing on Truth Social: "There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack."
AH-64 Apache helicopters have been crucial for the American military in enforcing a blockade targeting Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers. The helicopters have also been deployed by the United Arab Emirates to intercept and destroy Iranian drones.
