The U.S. Navy has officially called off the search for a sailor from the USS George Washington, who was reported missing overboard in the Timor Sea near Australia. The search efforts, which spanned over two days, concluded Wednesday after extensive collaboration between the Navy, the Australian Defence Force, and the Australian Border Force. The sailor was last seen on Monday while the ship was conducting operations in the region. Despite the extensive coordination, the search was ultimately deemed unsuccessful, and the Navy has decided to end its efforts for now.
According to the Navy, the search for the missing sailor was conducted with the assistance of the ship’s crew and the broader carrier strike group. The Navy has expressed its condolences to those affected by the loss and is working to support the crew through this challenging time. Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford, a spokesperson for the USS George Washington, stated that the Navy is actively providing assistance to the crew. At this point, the Navy is withholding the sailor’s name until 24 hours after notifying next-of-kin, as per standard procedure.
The USS George Washington was in the process of its first patrol since its return to Japan in November 2,024, according to reports. The ship’s recent deployment has been a significant part of its operational schedule. While the search for the missing sailor was called off on Wednesday, the Navy has not yet issued any official statements about the incident, stating that they are continuing to work within their established protocols. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Navy for further details.