A U.S. Navy crewmember is missing following an emergency water landing of a helicopter in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, military officials announced via social media. The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command stated that there is no indication the incident was caused by hostile action. Three of the helicopter's four crew members have been recovered and are reported to be in stable condition aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. U.S. Navy assets are currently engaged in a search for the remaining missing aircrewman.
The helicopter's emergency landing occurred at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time. The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command is investigating the incident. A Navy spokesperson declined to provide immediate comment on the specific mission the helicopter crew was undertaking at the time of the landing.
NBC News' Courtney Kube noted that the U.S. Navy maintains a significant presence in the region, with approximately two dozen ships operating and conducting daily helicopter and aircraft flights. These operations include training missions and at-sea resupply missions.
The USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the Middle East in April and is one of two aircraft carriers currently stationed in the region. This emergency landing adds to a series of aviation incidents the U.S. military has encountered in recent months. According to The Washington Post, at least 43 aircraft have been lost or damaged since late February. Notable incidents include an F-15E fighter aircraft downed over Iran in April, from which two crew members were rescued, and a KC-135 Stratotanker that crashed in Iraq in March, resulting in the deaths of six crew members.