The U.S. Navy has identified the sailor who went missing in a “man overboard incident” in the Arabian Sea last week.
Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Slayton Saldana was reported missing from aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday morning. After he was not found onboard, the Abraham Lincoln, the cruiser USS Leyte Gulf, and a Spanish frigate began search and rescue operations. Those operations were suspended Friday.
The Navy continues to list Saldana as “Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown.”
He was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and shipmates of our lost Sailor,” Vice Adm. Jim Malloy, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces said in a statement. “During this tragic time, I want to thank the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Méndez Núñez for their assistance in the search operations, and all the Sailors involved in the search for their valiant efforts to find our shipmate.”
