Sailor Still Missing After Boat Accident

A sailor is still missing in the waters of the Gulf of Aden in Texas, after a boat accident Wednesday.

The accident occurred around 8 a.m. when crews were transferring an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat into the water below from on the ship, according to a news release from the Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet. The boat was preparing to conduct routine personnel transfers to another U.S. ship in the gulf.

The tending line and inflatable boat crane cable became twisted together which caused the boat to flip over and eject three of the sailors aboard into the water.

Immediately after the accident occurred, the ship began conducting search and rescue operations. The search continued for over 24 hours, stated Lt. Nathan Christensen, a Navy spokesman. Two of the sailors were found and were uninjured. The third, whose name is being withheld pending family notification, is still missing.

The accident is under investigation.