The United States Navy has confirmed the death of a commander as a consequence of the emergency "landing" of a helicopter in the Arabian Sea last week, after search and rescue operations in the area were concluded on July 5. Likewise, it has insisted that the incident was not motivated by any "hostile action".
The military member has been identified as Gabriel Edwards, commander of the 5th Marine Combat Helicopter Squadron, and the military institution has sent its condolences to his loved ones, also highlighting the relevance of his career within the Armed Forces of the African country.
According to the Navy, the search and rescue operations lasted 102 hours and covered an area of over 36,000 square kilometers. Ships and aircraft belonging to two aircraft carrier strike groups deployed in the Middle East region participated in these efforts.
"The cause of the incident remains under investigation. There are no indications that the emergency was caused by hostile action," the institution stated in a statement, in a context marked by the conflict in the Middle East following the offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran and the fragile ceasefire in effect since April 8.