Officials awaiting update on missing Navy aircrewman
Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin briefed viewers on the continued effort to locate a missing U.S. Navy aircrew member in the Arabian Sea after a Seahawk helicopter conducted an emergency landing in the water after launching from the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. She also noted a drop in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the significant expense tied to deploying National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Navy on Tuesday named Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as the sailor who was lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter was forced to make an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea last week.
Edwards, who served as commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, or HSC-5, disappeared after the helicopter, assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, went down in the water on July 1, the Navy said.
Rescue teams recovered three of the four crew members aboard the aircraft, but the Navy ended its search for the missing sailor on Sunday.
The U.S. Navy identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as the sailor lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea. (Courtesy Photo | Cmdr. Gabe Edwards Bio Photo)
The Navy said the search for Edwards stretched beyond 102 hours and spanned more than 14,000 square miles.
“The thoughts and prayers of every member of the Carrier Strike Group 10 team are with the Edwards family,” Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10, said in a statement.
“While we are far from home, our heartfelt support remains at your side,” Cimicata added. “Gabe’s legacy as a husband, father, friend and fearless leader will never be forgotten. We are thankful to each who carry a unique and indelible part of Gabe’s memory with us as we continue this important mission.”
Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 aboard the USS George H.W. Bush when he was lost at sea in the Arabian Sea, according to the Navy. (CENTCOM)
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said he has directed that Edwards be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.
“I am deeply grateful to every sailor and airman who took part in the search and who continue to support his family, friends, and shipmates,” Cao said in a statement.
Edwards, a native of Oakland, Oregon, graduated from Norfolk State University in 2006 before earning his Wings of Gold as a Navy helicopter pilot in 2008, according to the Navy. He assumed command of HSC-5 in July 2025.
Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, was posthumously promoted to captain following his death, the Navy said. (Cpl Matthew Williams; Courtesy Photo | Cmdr. Gabe Edwards Bio Photo)
Edwards is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and two children, the Navy said.
“We are profoundly grateful to every Sailor, aviator, and Airman who devoted countless hours, extraordinary skill, and unwavering determination in the effort to bring Gabe home,” Rebecca Edwards said in a statement.
“Gabe has dedicated his life to serving his country with honor, courage, and commitment,” she continued. “He led with humility, integrity, and compassion, always putting his people before himself. To those who served alongside him, he was a respected leader and mentor. To our family, he is the love of my life, an extraordinary father to his children, and the foundation of our home. His greatest joy was always his family.”
During his career, Edwards logged more than 2,000 flight hours in multiple Navy helicopter platforms and had been selected for promotion to captain, according to the Navy.
HSC-5 is currently deployed to the Middle East aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. The Navy said mental health professionals, chaplains and other support personnel are assisting members of the squadron and the ship’s crew.
The Navy said the cause of the incident remains under investigation and that there is no indication the emergency water landing resulted from hostile action.
