The man disappeared around 9:00 a.m. local time, according to Military.com. His ship had been practicing “routing operations in the South China Sea,” the US Pacific Fleet said in a statement.
“Multiple searches were conducted inside the ship, but were unable to locate the sailor,” the Pacific Fleet added.
The USNS Amelia Earhart, the USNS Vice Admiral K. R. Wheeler and a P-3 Orion turboprop aircraft have all been mobilized to find the missing sailor. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force has contributed personnel, a ship, and helicopter support for the rescue effort, the Pacific Fleet statement added.
The US Navy declined to disclose the sailor’s name.
In July a US sailor presumed missing was found hiding aboard ship after a week-long manhunt.
