Overview
- An MH‑60S Sea Hawk assigned to USS George H. W. Bush made an emergency water landing on July 1 and three of four crew were rescued while one crew member remained missing.
- The Navy suspended its active search after more than 102 continuous hours covering over 14,000 square miles.
- The missing sailor was identified Tuesday as Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, and the Navy has declared him deceased.
- Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao directed a posthumous promotion to captain and the service is providing counseling and family support as a formal investigation proceeds with no indication of hostile action.
- Edwards had about 20 years of service, more than 2,000 flight hours, and led HSC‑5 on deployment aboard the carrier in the CENTCOM area, an assignment that places operational and safety practices under renewed scrutiny.