Three sailors from same U.S. Navy aircraft carrier found dead in one week

Three sailors have been found dead in three separate incidents in less than one week, all assigned to the same United States Navy aircraft carrier.

The USS George Washington, based in Newport News, Virginia since 2017 to undergo an overhaul on its fuel system and complex overhaul, is scheduled to be back in operation by December.

It is the workplace of 6,012 military members, many of whom live off the carrier close to where it is dry-docked. In the last week, three sailors from the carrier have been found dead in separate occurrences.

The first sailor, identified by the Navy as Retail Services Specialist 3rd Class Mikail Sharp, was found on April 9 at an off-base location of unspecified causes. The second, Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Natasha Huffman, was found the following day, April 10, also off-base. Her cause of death is also unknown at this time.

The third sailor from the USS Washington was found unresponsive on board the carrier on Friday, and later died. Their identity has not been revealed.

“The Sailor was treated by the medical team on board before being transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News where the service member passed away,” Naval Air Force Atlantic spokesman Michael Maus said in an email to The Navy Times. “The incident is under investigation and the command continues to cooperate with (the Naval Criminal Investigative Service).”

The deaths are under investigation by the Navy, but as yet nothing has been found to link the deaths or to tie them to the ship itself. “While these incidents remain under investigation, there is no initial indication to suggest there is a correlation between these tragic events,” said Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Reann Mommsen.

“The Navy is cooperating with local authorities where both incidents have occurred, as both incidents remain under investigation,” Maus said. “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family, friends and shipmates of our Sailors,” said Maus.