The Hos-Dominator: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a significant development, the Navy is gearing up for a deep-sea salvage operation to recover the wreckage of a helicopter that tragically went down in the eastern Pacific on August 31. The 'HOS Dominator' has pinpointed what officials believe to be the missing MH-60S Knighthawk from the "Eightballers" Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, located approximately 5,300 feet beneath the ocean surface. This location is near the helicopter's last known position, approximately 60 nautical miles from San Diego, as identified on September 22. Following the identification of the probable crash site, the Navy has mobilized specialized units to verify the wreckage and facilitate the recovery of the helicopter. This operation comes after an initial search and rescue effort that unfortunately resulted in the loss of five crew members who were aboard the aircraft. The Navy has officially declared the following sailors deceased: Pilot Lt. Bradley A. Foster, 29, from Oakhurst, California; Pilot Lt. Paul R. Fridley, 28, from Annandale, Virginia; Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class James P. Buriak, 31, from Salem, Virginia; HM2 Class Sarah F. Burns, 31, from Severna Park, Maryland; and HM3 Bailey J. Tucker, 21, from St. Louis, Missouri. The HSC-8 squadron is stationed at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California. Fortunately, one sailor was rescued from the ocean before the helicopter sank, while five others working on the flight deck of the USS 'Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)' sustained injuries during the incident. The cause of the helicopter's malfunction is still under investigation; initial reports indicate it experienced significant side-to-side vibrations, which led to the main rotor striking the flight deck before the helicopter fell overboard. The 'HOS Dominator' returned to North Island on September 19 after a five-day search involving deep-sea salvage teams from the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). The teams successfully identified the presumed wreckage using the Shallow Water Intermediate Search System (SWISS), a sophisticated sonar technology capable of scanning depths up to 8,000 feet. Additionally, the Towed Pinger Locator 25 (TPL-25), a device designed to detect emergency signals from underwater flight recorders, was employed in the search. Before recovery efforts can commence, further investigation is crucial to confirm whether the wreckage belongs to the missing MH-60S and not another sunken vessel. If verified, the Navy plans to deploy deep-salvage equipment to retrieve the helicopter and recover the remains of the late sailors. The exact timeline for this recovery mission remains uncertain, especially given the complex nature of operations at such profound depths. Specialized remotely operated vehicles, including the 6,400-pound CURV-21 ROV, will play a vital role, equipped to handle salvage operations at depths reaching up to 20,000 feet in the ocean.

The search for the lost MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter, which tragically sank during operations with an aircraft carrier, has entered its third consecutive day. The salvage vessel 'Dominator' is currently combing through a designated area of the Pacific Ocean, located southwest of San Diego, as of September 18. This extensive operation commenced after the Dominator departed from the Naval Base San Diego on September 16, embarking on a crucial mission to recover both the helicopter and five missing sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8. Although the exact location and depth of the wreckage remain undetermined, estimates suggest it lies between 4,000 and 6,000 feet underwater. Aboard the Dominator, a team of Navy personnel from Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) is utilizing advanced equipment specifically designed for deep-water salvage operations. This includes the Shallow Water Intermediate Search System (SWISS), which employs a towed side scanner, as well as the Towed Pinger Locator 25 (TPL-25). The team is fully committed to locating the downed helicopter and ensuring the safe recovery of the missing sailors.

On September 15, 2021, the HOS Dominator embarked from San Diego on a critical mission aimed at locating and recovering the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter that tragically crashed on August 31. This operation is being conducted by the U.S. Navy to recover the aircraft and the remains of five crew members who lost their lives in the accident. The helicopter is believed to be resting on the ocean floor at depths ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. In a rapid response, the Navy organized necessary equipment and resources to facilitate deep-sea search operations, bringing gear from various locations across the country. The incident occurred when the Seahawk, part of the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8, experienced severe vibrations while attempting to land on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, based in San Diego. This abnormal behavior caused the rotor to strike the flight deck, ultimately leading to the helicopter's fall into the ocean. While one crew member was successfully rescued, five sailors aboard the Abraham Lincoln sustained injuries, and sadly, after a comprehensive three-day search, they were declared deceased. The recovery efforts will be executed by the Navy's Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, which specializes in underwater salvage operations. The team is equipped with advanced technology, including a shallow-water side-scan sonar that can search up to 8,000 feet and a towed pinger locator capable of detecting downed aircraft at depths of up to 20,000 feet. Although the Navy has a general idea of where the helicopter entered the water—approximately 60 nautical miles southwest of San Diego—its wreckage has not yet been located. Those tragically killed in the crash include: — Lt. Bradley Foster, 29, from Oakhurst, California — Lt. Paul Fridley, 28, from Annandale, Virginia — Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class James Buriak, 31, from Salem, Virginia — Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sarah Burns, 31, from Severna Park, Maryland — Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bailey Tucker, 21, from St. Louis, Missouri