On Saturday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that it would be suspending the search for a crew member reported missing from the cutter Waesche, which was performing duties in the Eastern Pacific.
This decision comes as they await any new developments, as stated in their official announcement.
Incident Overview
Seaman Bryan K. Lee, a 23-year-old service member, was deemed “unaccounted for” during a counter-narcotics operation last Tuesday morning.
This incident occurred about 300 nautical miles south of Mexico, prompting the cutter to change course and launch a thorough search in the area.
Search Operations
Cmdr.
David Stern, who leads the search-and-rescue efforts at Coast Guard District Eleven, conveyed heartfelt sympathies to Seaman Lee’s family and friends.
He underscored the challenging nature of the circumstances, noting that the decision to cease searching was not made lightly.
Cmdr.
Stern praised the teamwork among various agencies and units that contributed to a vast search operation across a significant portion of the Pacific Ocean.
Throughout nearly 190 hours, the Waesche and its partners scoured more than 19,000 square nautical miles.
Their efforts were supported by the cutter’s helicopter and drones, as well as multiple aircraft from the Customs and Border Protection, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard.
Mexican Navy vessels also joined in the massive search effort, employing maritime patrol aircraft to assist in locating the missing seaman.
Source: Militarytimes