US Navy identifies sailor lost in Arabian Sea after helicopter's emergency water landing

The U.S. Navy connected Tuesday identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards arsenic the sailor mislaid astatine oversea aft an MH-60S chopper made an exigency h2o landing successful the Arabian Sea past week.

Edwards, the commanding serviceman of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5), went missing aft the chopper assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush made an exigency h2o landing connected July 1, according to the Navy.

Three of the helicopter's 4 unit members were successfully recovered, but the Navy suspended its hunt for the missing sailor connected Sunday.

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The U.S. Navy identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards arsenic the sailor mislaid astatine oversea aft an MH-60S chopper made an exigency h2o landing successful the Arabian Sea. (Courtesy Photo | Cmdr. Gabe Edwards Bio Photo)

According to the Navy, the hunt for Edwards lasted much than 102 hours and covered much than 14,000 quadrate miles.

"The thoughts and prayers of each subordinate of the Carrier Strike Group 10 squad are with the Edwards family," Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, commandant of Carrier Strike Group 10, said successful a statement.

"While we are acold from home, our heartfelt enactment remains astatine your side," Cimicata continued. "Gabe’s bequest arsenic a husband, father, person and fearless person volition ne'er beryllium forgotten. We are thankful to each who transportation a unsocial and indelible portion of Gabe’s representation with america arsenic we proceed this important mission."

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Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 aboard the USS George H.W. Bush erstwhile helium was mislaid astatine oversea successful the Arabian Sea, according to the Navy. (CENTCOM)

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said helium has directed that Edwards beryllium posthumously promoted to the fertile of captain.

"I americium profoundly grateful to each sailor and airman who took portion successful the hunt and who proceed to enactment his family, friends, and shipmates," Cao said successful a statement.

Edwards, a autochthonal of Oakland, Oregon, graduated from Norfolk State University successful 2006 earlier earning his Wings of Gold arsenic a Navy chopper aviator successful 2008, according to the Navy. He assumed bid of HSC-5 successful July 2025.

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Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, commanding serviceman of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, was posthumously promoted to skipper pursuing his death, the Navy said. (Cpl Matthew Williams; Courtesy Photo | Cmdr. Gabe Edwards Bio Photo)

Edwards is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and 2 children, the Navy said.

"We are profoundly grateful to each Sailor, aviator, and Airman who devoted countless hours, bonzer skill, and unwavering determination successful the effort to bring Gabe home," Rebecca Edwards said successful a statement.

"Gabe has dedicated his beingness to serving his state with honor, courage, and commitment," she continued. "He led with humility, integrity, and compassion, ever putting his radical earlier himself. To those who served alongside him, helium was a respected person and mentor. To our family, helium is the emotion of my life, an bonzer begetter to his children, and the instauration of our home. His top joyousness was ever his family."

During his career, Edwards logged much than 2,000 formation hours successful aggregate Navy chopper platforms and had been selected for promotion to captain, according to the Navy.

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HSC-5 is presently deployed to the Middle East aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. The Navy said intelligence wellness professionals, chaplains and different enactment unit are assisting members of the squadron and the ship's crew.

The Navy said the origin of the incidental remains nether probe and that determination is nary denotation the exigency h2o landing resulted from hostile action.