A U.S. Navy sailor is missing and believed to have gone overboard during a multinational military exercise in the Timor Sea, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation.
The unidentified sailor was aboard the USS George Washington on July 28, participating in Talisman Sabre 25—a large-scale joint training exercise involving U.S. and Australian forces, along with 17 other partner nations.
According to a statement from the Navy, the alarm was raised after reports surfaced of “a possible sailor overboard.” The George Washington, along with ships assigned to Carrier Strike Group 5, immediately initiated search and rescue procedures.
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U.S. Navy Senior Chief Brock Taylor confirmed the sailor was officially listed as missing and that the operation remains active.
The Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force are assisting the U.S. Navy, deploying multiple assets including a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a Cape-class patrol boat, ADV Cape Otway, to aid in the search.
The George Washington—a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier—was on its first patrol since returning to its home port in Yokosuka, Japan, in late 2024.
Talisman Sabre 25 includes more than 40,000 troops from allied nations and is designed to enhance readiness and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.
As of now, the sailor’s identity, including name and rank, has not been released. The Navy says updates will be provided as the search continues.
