Sailor Dies in Flight-Deck Mishap Aboard the Carrier George H.W. Bush

An MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21, prepares to take off from the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Aug. 3, 2018. One sailor died Monday in what the Navy is calling a "mishap" aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush flight deck. No other sailors were injured in the incident. (U.S. Navy photo/Ryan Pitt)

Military.com | By Gina Harkins

Published September 18, 2018

A sailor was killed Monday afternoon in a mishap on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, Navy officials said Tuesday.

The incident occurred at 4:45 p.m. while the carrier was at sea. No other sailors were hurt and the cause of the mishap remains under investigation.

Pilots assigned to the Bush were conducting carrier flight qualifications at the time of the mishap, said Cmdr. Dave Hecht, a spokesman for Naval Air Force Atlantic. The flight qualifications, which involve pilots taking off and landing, were suspended following the sailor's death, he added.

It's not immediately clear whether an aircraft was directly involved in the mishap. Hecht declined to comment on the type of aircraft being flown.

The Navy is withholding the sailor's name for 24 hours after the family is notified, according to a news release.

"We ask for your patience and understanding as the crew grieves the loss of one of their shipmates," the release states.

The Bush completed storm-weather preparations last week before Hurricane Florence hit the East Coast. The carrier left Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, ahead of the storm on Sept. 10 and has not yet returned to its homeport.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.

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Related Topics: Military Headlines US Navy Topics Aircraft Carriers

Gina Harkins

Gina Harkins previously covered the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard for Military.com. She has covered troops and their families for nearly a decade, reporting from the U.S., Central and South America, and at sea. Before joining Military.com, Gina was a longtime reporter and managing editor for the independent Marine Corps Times. Her story on two recruits trapped at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina was runner up for the 2013 Military Reporters and Editors award for domestic military coverage. She holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and studied political science and international relations in her undergrad at Northeastern Illinois University. Read Full Bio

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