Search suspended for airman missing in Gulf of Mexico

Author: AP Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published:
A U.S. military C-130 Hercules aircraft is seen flying on July 1, 2016, in Townsville, Australia. (IAN HITCHCOCK/GETTY IMAGES)

After four days of searching the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended search operations for a missing Hurlburt Field special tactics airman.

The search was suspended Friday evening.

On Tuesday morning, an airman from the 24th Special Operations Wing fell into the Gulf of Mexico south of Hurlburt Field while performing a planned static-line jump from a C-130 aircraft.

The Pensacola News Journal reports Coast Guard air and boat crews spent over 130 hours on scene and searched more than 4,909 square-nautical miles but were unable to locate him.

The U.S. Air Force is now overseeing a recovery effort. The airman’s name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification.

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