US Navy identifies Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as sailor lost in Arabian Sea after helicopter incident

The U.S. Navy identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as the sailor lost at sea following an emergency water landing of an MH-60S helicopter in the Arabian Sea on July 1. Edwards was the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5) and went missing after the helicopter, which was assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, made the emergency landing. Three of the four crew members were successfully recovered, but the search for Edwards was suspended after more than 102 hours and covering over 14,000 square miles. Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata expressed condolences to Edwards' family, stating that the team is with them in spirit. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced that Edwards would be posthumously promoted to captain. Edwards, originally from Oakland, Oregon, graduated from Norfolk State University in 2006 and became a Navy helicopter pilot in 2008. He is survived by his wife and two children. The Navy is investigating the incident, with no indication of hostile action.