US Navy Suspends Timor Sea Search for Missing USS George Washington Sailor

A U.S. Navy sailor, Airman Rivera Lynch, went missing after reportedly falling overboard from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington during military exercises in the Timor Sea near Australia. The sailor was identified after nearly two days of an extensive search involving U.S. Navy assets, as well as support from the Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force, covering about 2,200 square miles. Despite continuous rescue efforts during the multinational Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise, the search was suspended without finding the sailor, and the Navy has expressed condolences while supporting the crew. The USS George Washington remains deployed in the area as part of Carrier Strike Group 5 and the Talisman Sabre exercise, which involves over 40,000 personnel from 19 countries. The Navy has withheld further details pending notification of next of kin, and the incident adds to operational challenges for the carrier, which recently completed a prolonged maintenance period marked by sailor deaths. The joint search operation highlights strong cooperation between U.S. and Australian military forces.