Three crew members of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter were rescued and one remained missing after the aircraft made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea early Wednesday, according to a statement from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The three rescued crew members are in stable condition aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, the aircraft carrier to which the four-person helicopter was assigned. Naval forces are continuing the search for the fourth crew member.
The cause of the emergency landing is currently under investigation. However, U.S. Navy officials stated there is no indication that the incident was a result of hostile action.
The USS George H.W. Bush was part of a deployment of numerous American warships in the region, which had been enforcing a naval blockade of Iran. The blockade concluded in June, leading to increased maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this, relations between Iran and the United States remain tense following recent attacks in the Persian Gulf.
