An MH-60S helicopter embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) crashed into the sea while conducting routine flight operations approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego at 4:30 p.m. PST, Aug. 31.
At 12:35 a.m. Eastern time on Sept. 1, 2021, Commander Third Fleet Public Affairs released this update:
Currently, one crewmember has been rescued and search efforts continue for the other crewmembers of an MH-60S helicopter embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) that crashed into the sea while conducting routine flight operations approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego at 4:30 p.m. PST, Aug. 31.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing with multiple Coast Guard and Navy air and surface assets.
Abraham Lincoln is homeported in San Diego.
At 1:58 a.m. Eastern time on Sept. 1, 2021, Commander Third Fleet Public Affairs released this update:
Currently, one crewmember has been rescued and search efforts continue for five additional crewmembers of an MH-60S helicopter embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) that crashed into the sea while conducting routine flight operations approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego at 4:30 p.m. PST, Aug. 31.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing with multiple Coast Guard and Navy air and surface assets.
Abraham Lincoln is homeported in San Diego.
At 12:44 p.m. Eastern time on Sept. 1, 2021, Commander Third Fleet Public Affairs released this update:
The Sailor who was rescued from the aircraft was transported ashore and is in stable condition.
Search efforts continue for five additional aircrew members.
The aircraft, from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, was operating on deck before crashing into the sea.
Five additional Sailors aboard Abraham Lincoln suffered injuries in the incident and are in stable condition. Two of the five Abraham Lincoln Sailors were transported ashore for treatment, while three of the five Abraham Lincoln Sailors had minimal injuries and remain aboard the ship.
on Sept. 4, 2021, Commander Third Fleet Public Affairs released this update:
The U.S. Navy has declared the five missing crewmembers of an MH-60S helicopter crash, deceased. U.S. 3rd Fleet has shifted from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations, Sept. 4.
Assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, the helicopter was conducting routine flight operations from USS Abraham Lincoln when it crashed into the sea approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego at 4:30 p.m. (PST), Aug. 31.
As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Navy policy, the identities of the Sailors will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.
The transition from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations comes after more than 72 hours of coordinated rescue efforts encompassing 34 search and rescue flights, over 170 hours of flight time, with 5 search helicopters and constant surface vessel search.
Units involved in the effort included assets from Coast Guard District 11, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), and helicopter squadrons from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Helicopter Sea Combat Wing and Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing.
on Sept. 5, 2021, Commander Third Fleet Public Affairs released this update:
On Sept. 5, the U.S. Navy released the names of the five Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 crewmembers who died, Aug. 31, when their helicopter crashed into the sea.
Names of the deceased are:
Lt. Bradley A. Foster, 29, a pilot from Oakhurst, California
Lt. Paul R. Fridley, 28, a pilot from Annandale, Virginia
Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class James P. Buriak, 31, from Salem, Virginia
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sarah F. Burns, 31, from Severna Park, Maryland
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bailey J. Tucker, 21, from St. Louis, Missouri
An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.
More information will be published as it is available.
Source: U.S. Third Fleet
