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A search-and-rescue mission is under way in the Timor Sea for a US sailor believed to have gone overboard from the USS George Washington on Monday.

The aircraft carrier and its carrier strike group are conducting search-and-rescue operations in the sea, after “reports of a possible sailor overboard” on Monday afternoon, the US navy said in a statement.

The Australian defence force and Australian Border Force are assisting in the search.

The sailor’s name or rank, or the circumstances of the incident, has not been disclosed.

A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Defence said the ADF was called in to support US search efforts “for a sailor … who was reported missing in the Timor Sea”.

“Australian Defence Force-owned and Australian Border Force-contracted assets are supporting the search, including Royal Australian Air Force P8-A Poseidon aircraft and Royal Australian Navy Cape Class Patrol Boat ADV Cape Otway.”

The USS George Washington returned to sea in 2024 after a major overhaul and upgrade. It is forward-deployed in Japan.

The aircraft carrier – and its carrier strike group – are operating in the Timor Sea as part of Talisman Sabre 2025 exercises.

Talisman Sabre is a biennial, multinational military exercise led by Australia and the United States. The 2025 iteration involves more than 43,000 military personnel from 19 countries – including India, Indonesia, the UK and France. Three additional countries – Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam – are observers of the exercises.

The Timor Sea, a shallow sea of the Indian Ocean, lies north-west of Darwin, between Australia and the island of Timor.