Published Jul 7, 2026, 7:55 PM EDT
Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards is described by colleagues and his family as a special person gone too soon.
Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, has been identified by the U.S. Navy as the missing sailor who went missing following a helicopter’s emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on July 1. The Navy made the announcement Tuesday evening, two days after announcing that the search for Edwards had been suspended. Edwards and three others were aboard an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter last week and assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. The aircraft made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea at about 3:30 a.m. EST, according to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet. After three crew members were recovered and were last described as being in stable condition aboard the carrier, the search continued for Edwards. Navy officials said that the attempted search-and-rescue mission was led by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The extensive search involved ships and aircraft from two carrier strike groups, two Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadrons (VP) flying P-8A Poseidon aircraft, and multiple U.S. Air Force aircraft.
