Sailor missing in Arabian Sea declared dead
The Navy searched more than 14,000 square miles over 102 hours before finding the missing commander and declaring him deceased.
- The U.S. Navy recovered the body of Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards on Tuesday, the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 who went missing during a July 1 emergency helicopter water landing in the Arabian Sea.
- Navy search teams suspended operations on Sunday after a 102-hour effort covering more than 14,000 square miles, utilizing aircraft from two carrier strike groups and multiple U.S. Air Force aircraft.
- During his 20-year career, Edwards accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours, leading the HSC-5 "Nightdippers" with "integrity and fortitude," according to Carrier Air Wing 7 commander Matthew Lewis.
- The incident remains under investigation, with the Navy stating there is "no indication" the emergency was caused by hostile action, as counselors actively support the squadron and ship's crew.
- Gold Star mother Gunn, who lost her son in the 2000 USS Cole attack, told families the Edwards family won't walk "the difficult road ahead" alone, offering "I'll be there for you.
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U.S. NAVY IDENTIFIES MISSING PILOT LOST AT SEA AS OAKLAND NATIVE
July 8, 2026 10:50 a.m. A U.S. Navy Pilot missing after a helicopter’s emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on July 1st, has been identified as an Oakland, Oregon native. A release from Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs said the man is Commander Gabriel Edwards, commanding officer of the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron. He is presumed deceased. Rear Admiral Todd Cimicata, commander, Carrier Strike Group 10 said, “The thoughts and prayers o…
The Daily Caller
Navy IDs Missing Sailor From Helicopter Emergency Landing Near Iran
The US Navy recovered the body of Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards on Tuesday following an emergency helicopter landing in the Arabian Sea. The 102-hour rescue and rescue effort covered more than 14,000 square miles before the Navy found the missing sailor Sunday afternoon local time, the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet wrote in an […]
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