A US Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea early Wednesday, leaving one crew member missing. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. ET, according to the US Naval Forces Central Command. Three of the four crew members were rescued and are in stable condition aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, while search operations continue for the missing airman.
The Navy has stated there is no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. The helicopter, assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, is a multi-mission aircraft used for search, transport, and combat support.
The emergency landing comes amid heightened tensions in the region following recent US-Iran conflicts. A fragile ceasefire between the two nations has temporarily eased tensions, but analysts warn it may be tactical rather than lasting. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy route, has seen fluctuations in activity following the truce. The USS George H.W. Bush, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has been deployed in the region since late April as part of US operations against Iran.
This is the second US military helicopter incident in the region in recent weeks. An Army AH-64 Apache helicopter went down in the Gulf of Oman on June 9, with the US government assessing that an Iranian drone was responsible. President Donald Trump ordered retaliatory strikes on Iran following that incident.
Search and rescue efforts for the missing crew member are ongoing, with Navy assets actively involved in the operation.