The U.S. Navy has suspended its search for a sailor reported missing from the aircraft carrier George Washington while it was operating in the Timor Sea, the service announced Wednesday.
The Navy ended the active search at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday following “an extensive search” involving Navy personnel, the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Border Force, officials said in a brief release. The sailor was reported missing Monday as it was transiting the Timor Sea, located off Australia’s northern coast.
The carrier began search efforts after receiving reports of a possible sailor overboard, officials said in an earlier statement.
The sailor’s identity is being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification, per Navy policy.
“USS George Washington expresses sincere condolences to those impacted by this loss and is actively engaged with the crew to make services available to tend to their needs during this challenging time,” Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford, spokesperson for the carrier, said in a statement.
Editor’s note: This report has been updated to include a statement from the carrier’s spokesperson.
Beth Sullivan is an editor for Military Times. Previously, she worked as a staff reporter for The Daily Memphian and as an assistant editor at The Austin Chronicle.
