WASHINGTON — A Navy sailor was killed Monday afternoon aboard the USS George H. W. Bush off the East Coast of the United States, service officials said Tuesday.
The officials described the death aboard the aircraft carrier as “a mishap” on the ship’s flight deck. The Bush was at sea conducting carrier qualification training after it had departed from Norfolk, Va., last week ahead of Hurricane Florence’s landfall.
No other individuals were injured in the incident, and officials said an investigation has been launched.
They declined to provide additional details Tuesday about the incident.
The name of the dead sailor was withheld Tuesday, per Pentagon policy not to publicly identify fallen servicemembers until 24 hours after family notification.
"We ask for your patience and understanding as the crew grieves the loss of one of their shipmates," the Navy said in a statement.
The Bush is one of 25 Navy ships sent to sea last week ahead of Florence. The Navy has two ships prepared to aid hurricane relief efforts off the coast, but the Bush is not one of them.
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