Navy Identifies Lost Sailors from Sunday’s Knighthawk Crash

September 25, 2013 4:34 AM - Updated: May 20, 2014 10:32 AM
Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones
Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones

The Navy identified the two sailors who were lost at sea and presumed dead following the crash of a MH-60S Knighthawk operating in the Red Sea on Sunday, according to a late night Tuesday release from the service.

The sailors were identified as Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones, 35, of Lompoc, Calif., and Chief Warrant Officer Jonathon S. Gibson, 32, of Aurora, Ore.

Chief Warrant Officer Jonathon S. Gibson, 32
Chief Warrant Officer Jonathon S. Gibson, 32

Three of the five crew were successfully rescued following the crash of the helicopter attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 operating from guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110).

The helicopter was part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, currently on station in the Red Sea as a contingency force in case of military action in Syria.

The crash was not due to “hostile activity,” according to 5th Fleet.

USS Nimitz (CVN-68), William P. Lawrence, USS Princeton (CG-59), USS Shoup (DDG-86), USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) as well as MH-60S Knighthawks from HSC-6, and MH-60R Seahawks from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 and one P-3 from Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 all assisted in the search and rescue effort.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
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