An ongoing search and rescue effort is underway after an AU.S. Navy sailor went missing and is thought to have gone overboard during a multinational military exercise in the Timor Sea.
Along with 17 other partner nations, the unnamed sailor was on board the USS George Washington on July 28 for Talisman Sabre 25, a massive joint training exercise combining U.S. and Australian forces.
The Navy said in a statement that the alarm was sparked by rumors of a potential sailor going overboard. Search and rescue operations were promptly launched by the George Washington and ships belonging to Carrier Strike Group 5.
The sailor was formally reported missing, and the operation is still ongoing, according to U.S. Navy Senior Chief Brock Taylor.
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a Cape-class patrol boat, ADVCape Otway, are among the many resources being deployed by the Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force to support the U.S. Navy in the hunt.
It was the first patrol since the George Washingtona Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier returned to its home port in Yokosuka, Japan, at the end of 2024.
Over 40,000 soldiers from ally countries make up Talisman Sabre 25, which aims to improve readiness and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.
The sailor’s name, rank, and other details have not yet been made public. As the search goes on, the Navy said it will offer updates.
