US Navy's MH 60 helicopter down in Arabian Sea during ‘emergency’ water landing, crew member missing

A US Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk crashed into the Arabian Sea during an emergency landing; 3 crew were rescued, 1 is missing,

Updated on: Jul 2, 2026, 06:49:11 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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A MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter with the US Navy crashed into the Arabian Sea on Wednesday during an emergency water landing, the US military said in a statement.

This US Navy handout photo released by US Central Command Public Affairs shows an MH-60R Sea Hawk taking off of the flight deck on May 19, 2026. (AFP)

The incident was not a result of a hostile action on the chopper, currently assigned to the USS George H W Bush Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The statement from the US Navy's 5th Fleet said that the incident happened on July 1 at 3:30am EDT.

The Navy said the helicopter had four crew members, three of whom were recovered with injuries, while one still remains missing. No details about the missing crew member were revealed.

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"US Navy assets in the region are currently searching for other crew members still missing," the statement read. “The cause of incident is under investigation.”

The USS George W Bush has been a key part of the US Navy's deployment in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. It has been in the Middle East region since April 2026 as one of the two US aircraft carriers in the region.

According to the Middle East Institute, the US's Naval fleet (under US Fifth Fleet) in the Middle East is headquartered at Naval Support Activity in Bahrain. The Fifth Fleet is active in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.

The fleet is in charge of operations at critical points in the conflict, such as Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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