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U.S. helicopter goes down in Arabian Sea, crew member missing, Navy says

CBS News Published Jul 1, 2026 Reviewed Jul 4, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Citation-ready fact
Three of four crew members of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter were rescued and are in stable condition aboard the USS George H.W. Bush following an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea.
3 person · crew members
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, military command
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Citation-ready fact
Three of the four crew members of the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush were recovered and are in stable condition aboard the carrier following an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea.
3 person · crew members of the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter
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Citation-ready fact
As of mid-May, the U.S. had lost 42 fixed-wing or rotor aircraft in Operation Epic Fury.
42 aircraft · fixed-wing or rotor aircraft lost
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Citation-ready fact
The USS George H.W. Bush has been in the Middle East since late April and is one of two aircraft carriers remaining in the region.
2 aircraft carrier · aircraft carriers remaining in the Middle East region
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Citation-ready fact
The U.S. military reported no indication that the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter was shot down by hostile action.
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Citation-ready fact
Two crew members were rescued from an U.S. Apache helicopter shot down by an Iranian drone in early June.
2 person · crew members
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Citation-ready fact
The helicopter incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. Eastern time (about 11 a.m. local time).
about 3.5 hour · incident time (Eastern time)about 11 hour · incident time (local time)
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Three members of a four-person MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter crew were rescued at sea after an "emergency water landing" in the Arabian Sea early Wednesday morning, according to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

A search continues for the fourth and final crew member.

There is "no indication" the helicopter was shot down by hostile action, the military said. The helicopter is assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush.

"Three of the helicopter's four crew members have been recovered and are in stable condition aboard George H. W. Bush," U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said. "U.S. Navy assets in the region are currently searching for [the] other aircrewman still missing."

The incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. Eastern time, which would've been about 11 a.m. local time.

The USS George H.W. Bush has been in the Middle East since late April. It is one of two aircraft carriers remaining in the region. While the U.S. has rescinded its blockade of vessels traveling into and out of the Strait of Hormuz, it still has a sizable military presence.

The U.S. had lost 42 fixed-wing or rotor aircraft in Operation Epic Fury as of mid-May, the last time an update was given to Congress. 

That does not include the U.S. Apache helicopter shot down by an Iranian drone in early June. The two crew members on that helicopter were able to be rescued. That incident precipitated the U.S. to undertake "self-defense strikes" against Iran.

Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.

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