Update: Search ends for missing US Navy sailor

The US Navy has ended search and rescue efforts for Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Ian McKnight, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), who is believed to have gone overboard on September 6.

Following a thorough search of the ship and man overboard alert Sept. 6, Nimitz, guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and aircraft from the US Navy and Air Force conducted search and rescue operations in the North Arabian Sea where it was reported that McKnight was missing.

The search and rescue operations were concluded on September 8, after extensive attempts to locate McKnight, according to the navy.

“We are deeply saddened as we call off the search for IT2 Ian McKnight,” Capt. Max Clark, commanding officer of USS Nimitz, said.

McKnight remains listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN). Next of kin notification of McKnight’s DUSTWUN status has been completed.

The incident remains under investigation. 

Nimitz is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11 and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce.