Investigation underway to locate American sailor missing from USS George Washington in northern Australian waters | United States Armed Forces

A search and rescue operation is currently underway in the Timor Sea for an American sailor who is believed to have fallen overboard from the USS George Washington on Monday. The aircraft carrier and its carrier strike group have initiated search efforts following reports of a possible sailor overboard incident in the afternoon, according to a statement from the US Navy. The Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force have joined the search efforts. However, the name, rank, and circumstances surrounding the incident have not been disclosed. An Australian Department of Defence spokesperson confirmed that the ADF has been called upon to support the US in searching for the missing sailor, utilizing assets such as Royal Australian Air Force P8-A Poseidon aircraft and the Royal Australian Navy Cape Class Patrol Boat ADV Cape Otway. The USS George Washington recently underwent a significant overhaul and upgrade before returning to sea in 2024. It is currently operating in the Timor Sea as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 exercises. Talisman Sabre is a biennial multinational military exercise led by Australia and the United States, involving over 43,000 military personnel from 19 countries. The Timor Sea is a shallow sea located northwest of Darwin, between Australia and the island of Timor.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/30/search-missing-us-sailor-uss-george-washington-timor-sea-near-australia