The Coast Guard and Navy search widened overnight for a sailor from the cruiser Normandy who is presumed overboard near Cherry Point, North Carolina, but there was no sign yet of the missing person.
The sailor went missing about 80 miles off the coast of North Carolina around 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to U.S. Fleet Forces Command. The man-overboard triggered a massive search and rescue effort involving Marine, Navy and Coast Guard assets. The carrier Abraham Lincoln with four embarked helicopters, the medium endurance cutter Forward, and the destroyers Bainbridge, The Sullivans and Mason all joined Normandy in the search over the past 18 hours.
Coast Guard and Navy search and rescue planes have also been assisting.
The water temperature rose near North Carolina's outer banks to 72 degrees overnight, with the air temperature also at about 72 degrees, with possible rain in the forecast.
The sailor's immediate family has been notified of the search, Fleet Forces Command said in a statement.
"The Sailor's next of kin has been made aware of the incident and is being provided updates on the ongoing search and rescue operation," said Lt. Cmdr. Brian Wierzbicki in an email. "Command leadership is in contact with Normandy families to make them aware of the incident as well. Our thoughts remain with the Normandy family and we will continue to provide updates as they become available."
David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.
