U.S. Navy names Cmdr. Edwards as sailor lost in Arabian Sea crash
Authorities await update on missing Navy aircrew
Chief Homeland Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin updates viewers on the ongoing search for a missing U.S. Navy aircrewman in the Arabian Sea following the emergency water landing of a Seahawk helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. Highlights the significant costs of reduced commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C.
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On Tuesday, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards stars as a sailor lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea last week.
Edwards, commander of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5), went missing after the helicopter assigned to the USS George HW Bush made an emergency water landing on July 1, according to the Navy.
Three of the helicopter’s four crew members were successfully rescued, but the Navy suspended the search for the missing sailor on Sunday.
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US Navy Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards stars as a sailor lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter makes an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea. (Photo courtesy | Commander Gabe Edwards Biography)
The search for Edwards lasted more than 102 hours and covered more than 14,000 square miles, according to the Navy.
“The thoughts and prayers of every member of the Carrier Strike Group 10 team are with the Edwards family,” Rear Admiral Todd Cimicata, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10, said in a statement.
“Even though we are far from home, our wholehearted support continues to be with you,” Cimicata continued. “Gabe’s legacy as a husband, father, friend and fearless leader will never be forgotten. We are grateful to everyone who carries a unique and indelible piece of Gabe’s memory with us as we continue this important mission.”
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Commander. Gabriel Edwards was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 aboard USS George HW Bush when he was lost at sea in the Arabian Sea, according to the Navy. (CENTCOM)
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said he ordered Edwards to be promoted to the rank of captain after his death.
“I am deeply grateful to every sailor and airman who participated in the search and continues to support their family, friends and shipmates,” Cao said in a statement. he said.
A native of Oakland, Oregon, Edwards graduated from Norfolk State University in 2006 and earned the Wings of Gold award as a Navy helicopter pilot in 2008, according to the Navy. He assumed command of HSC-5 in July 2025.
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Commander. Gabriel Edwards, commander of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, was promoted to captain following his death, the Navy said. (Captain Matthew Williams; Courtesy Photo | Commander Gabe Edwards Biography Photo)
Edwards is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and their two children, the Navy said.
“We are deeply grateful to every Sailor, airman and Airman who devoted countless hours, extraordinary skills and unwavering determination to the effort to bring Gabe home,” Rebecca Edwards said in a statement. he said.
“Gabe dedicated his life to serving his country with honor, courage and dedication,” he continued. “He led with humility, integrity and compassion, always putting his people before himself. He was a respected leader and mentor to those who served with him. To our family, he was the love of my life, an extraordinary father to his children, and the foundation of our home. His greatest joy was always his family.”
Edwards logged more than 2,000 flight hours on multiple Navy helicopter platforms during his career and was selected for promotion to captain, according to the Navy.
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HSC-5 is currently deployed to the Middle East aboard USS George HW Bush. Mental health professionals, chaplains and other support staff are assisting fleet members and ship crews, the Navy said.
The Navy said the cause of the incident was under investigation and there was no indication that the emergency water landing was due to hostile action.
