The U.S. Navy suspended a more than four-day search for Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards after an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea on July 1.
The active search concluded at 3 p.m. AST on July 5, after 102 hours of continuous operations covering more than 14,000 square miles of ocean. Three other crew members aboard the helicopter were rescued and survived the incident.
The Emergency Landing
The helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 aboard the USS George H.W. Bush went down after an emergency water landing at approximately 3:30 a.m. Eastern time on July 1. The Navy said there was no indication the incident was caused by hostile action.
Ships and aircraft from the Navy and Air Force participated in the search effort across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The operation included helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft from the carrier strike group, aircraft from the USS Abraham Lincoln, multiple guided-missile destroyers and Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol squadrons.
The Missing Commander
The Navy identified the missing sailor as Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5. Edwards had assumed command of HSC-5 in July 2025 and had accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours across several helicopter platforms.
Edwards was selected for promotion to captain by the Fiscal Year 2027 O-6 Line Officer Promotion Board. The Navy described him as a longtime aviator whose career included numerous military awards and deployments.
Investigation Ongoing
The circumstances surrounding the emergency landing remain under investigation, with officials saying the final explanation for what caused the helicopter to make the emergency descent has not yet been publicly established. The investigation is expected to examine the aircraft, the circumstances leading to the emergency landing and the sequence of events after the helicopter entered the water.
Members of HSC-5 and the ship’s crew are receiving support from mental-health professionals, chaplains and other support personnel following the incident. The Navy has not publicly announced additional details about Edwards’ disappearance beyond official statements.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Sarah Jones contributed to this report.
