US Navy Searching For Missing Crew Member After Emergency Water Landing

A US navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, the US naval forces central command (NAVCENT) said in a statement. However, one crew member still missing as search operations continue.

"On July 1 at 3:30 a.m. ET, the aircrew of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) conducted an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea. There is no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action. Three of the helicopter's four crew members have been recovered and are in stable condition aboard George H. W. Bush. U.S. Navy assets in the region are currently searching for other aircrewman still missing," NAVCENT said in a statement on X.

The cause of incident is under investigation.

Just days ago, a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect, pausing the intense hostilities of Operation Epic Fury. The truce successfully reopened the Strait of Hormuz, which has brought down the crude oil price.

Despite easing the blockade on vessels moving through the strait, the U.S. maintains a massive military footprint in the area. The USS George H.W. Bush has been stationed in the Middle East since late April and remains one of two American aircraft carriers currently deployed to the region.

Aviation losses have been mounting during the recent conflict. According to a report in CBS, the U.S. had reported the loss of 42 fixed-wing and rotor aircraft to Congress as of mid-May. That figure does not include an Apache helicopter that was shot down by an Iranian drone in early June, an escalation that forced the two-person crew to be rescued and triggered immediate American retaliatory strikes.

Experts have told Reuters that the ceasefire is a tactical pause which has calmed the markets temporarily. The US and Iran have agreed to hold talks for 60 days.