Death of sailor on Navy ship spurs investigation

A sailor died on the flight deck of the USS George H.W. Bush while it was out at sea Monday afternoon, according to a Navy news release.

Around 4:45 p.m., the sailor was killed in what Navy officials called a “mishap.” No one else was hurt and the cause of the death is under investigation, according to the release.

Pilots had been conducting carrier qualifications at the time, according to Cmdr. Dave Hecht, spokesman for Naval Air Force Atlantic. Carrier qualifications involve aviators honing their skills launching and recovering fixed-wing aircraft. Those operations aboard the aircraft carrier were suspended following the death and were scheduled to resume Tuesday, Hecht said.

Hecht called the death a “tragic situation.”

The name of the sailor will be released 24 hours after the sailor’s next of kin have been notified, in accordance with Defense Department policy.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family,” Hecht said.

No further details were immediately available Tuesday.

“We ask for your patience and understanding as the crew grieves the loss of one of their shipmates,” the Navy said in the statement.

The aircraft carrier left Norfolk last week to head out to sea in anticipation of Hurricane Florence and has not yet returned.