USS George Washington cruises in the Pacific Ocean in 2009. (U.S. Navy)
The search for a sailor who went missing from the USS George Washington at sea north of Australia has ended, the Pentagon reported Wednesday.
“The U.S. Navy suspended the active search for a sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington,” the service said in a statement.
The name of the missing sailor is being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin are notified, the Navy said.
The George Washington has a crew of about 3,500 sailors and an air wing element of about 2,400 personnel. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was taking part in Operation Talisman Sabre. The major multi-national exercise centered on the Sea of Timor, between the northern coast of Australia and the island of Timor.
When the sailor was reported missing Monday, the carrier and the warships in its strike group broke off from the exercise to conduct a search, the Navy said.
“The ship initiated search-and-rescue procedures after receiving reports of a possible sailor overboard,” the USS George Washington said in a statement released by the Navy.
The search was joined by the destroyer USS Shoup, the cruiser USS Robert Smalls, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft from the George Washington’s strike group, and assistance from Australian forces.
