The search has ended for a sailor who is believed to have gone overboard from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Wednesday morning, U.S. 5th Fleet announced.
Guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55), Patrol Squadron (VP) 10, Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 and Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez ended their search in the Arabian Sea on Friday for the sailor who was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and shipmates of our lost sailor,” U.S. 5th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Jim Malloy said in a statement. “During this tragic time, I want to thank [Méndez Núñez] for their assistance in the search operations, and all the sailors involved in the search for their valiant efforts to find our shipmate.”
The missing sailor is listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) and the next of kin have been notified, the statement said
The Lincoln CSG deployed from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on April 1 following the completion of its mid-life refueling at Newport News Shipbuilding. The carrier has been operating in U.S. Central Command since May following inflamed tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
The following is the complete Friday statement from the service.
MANAMA, Bahrain – The U.S. Navy has ended its search and rescue efforts for a Sailor, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, who is believed to have gone overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the morning of Jul. 17.
Following a man overboard report on Jul. 17 the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), Patrol Squadron (VP) 10, Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 and Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Méndez Núñez conducted search and rescue operations in the Arabian Sea area where it was reported the Sailor was missing. The search and rescue operations were concluded on Jul. 19, after extensive attempts to locate the Sailor.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and shipmates of our lost Sailor,” said Vice Adm. Jim Malloy, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces. “During this tragic time, I want to thank the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Méndez Núñez for their assistance in the search operations, and all the Sailors involved in the search for their valiant efforts to find our shipmate.”
The Sailor remains listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN). The Sailor’s name is being withheld in accordance with Navy policy. Next of kin notification of the Sailor’s DUSTWUN status has been completed.
HSC-5 is part of Carrier Air Wing 7, assigned to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.
