A U.S. Navy helicopter assigned to an American aircraft carrier made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday morning, leaving one service member missing as search-and-rescue operations continued, according to the U.S. military.
The aircraft involved was an MH-60S Seahawk, a twin-engine helicopter used by the Navy for a variety of missions, including search and rescue, special operations and combat support. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said the helicopter was forced to make what it described as an “emergency water landing.”
Military officials said there is currently “no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action,” according to a statement posted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command on social media.
The helicopter is assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier operating in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The carrier is one of two U.S. aircraft carriers currently operating in the Central Command theater.
Four aircrew members were aboard the helicopter at the time of the incident.
According to the military, three of the four crew members were successfully recovered following the emergency landing. Officials said those service members were returned safely to the USS George H.W. Bush and are in stable condition.
The fourth crew member remains missing.
The Navy has launched a search effort using available military assets in the region in an attempt to locate the missing service member. Officials have not released additional details about the ongoing operation or how long the search is expected to continue.
The emergency water landing occurred in the Arabian Sea, where U.S. naval forces continue to operate as part of broader military operations under U.S. Central Command. Authorities have not provided further information regarding the circumstances leading up to the incident.
While the cause of the emergency remains unclear, military officials emphasized that there is currently no evidence suggesting the helicopter was brought down or forced into the water by hostile activity.
The MH-60S Seahawk is a versatile helicopter used across a wide range of Navy missions. In addition to search-and-rescue operations, the aircraft can support special operations, provide combat support and carry out other operational tasks depending on mission requirements.
The incident is now the subject of an official investigation.
Military officials have not released information regarding what may have prompted the helicopter to make the emergency landing, and no timeline has been provided for when investigators expect to determine the cause.
For now, the focus remains on the ongoing effort to locate the missing crew member while ensuring the safety of those who were recovered from the water.
The Navy has confirmed that the three rescued aircrew members remain in stable condition aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, while search operations continue in the Arabian Sea for the fourth service member.
Officials said the investigation into the incident will proceed as additional information becomes available.
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