---
title: "Navy declares missing USS Abraham Lincoln sailor dead"
description: "Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Slayton Saldana's status has been changed to deceased."
date: "2019-07-29"
modified: "2019-07-29"
authors:
  - name: "Jeff Schogol"
    job_title: "Senior Pentagon Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jeff-schogol/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/missing-sailor-declared-deceased/"
categories:
  - "Around the World"
  - "Carriers"
  - "Middle East"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "Navy"
  - "News"
  - "Rescue"
  - "Ships"
  - "Tactics"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
tags:
  - "central command"
---

# Navy declares missing USS Abraham Lincoln sailor dead

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/20491736-1.jpg>)

A sailor from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been officially declared dead after he went missing on July 17 and search and rescue efforts failed to find him, a Navy official said.

Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Slayton Saldana was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan at the time of his death, the official told Task & Purpose on Monday.

Saldana was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, with Carrier Air Wing 7. He was initially listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown after being reported overboard in the Arabian Sea.

The search for him ended on July 19.

### SEE ALSO: Defense Secretary says US military 'will be available' to escort commercial ships passing Iran

### WATCH NEXT: Sea Hawk Helicopters Take Off From The USS Abraham Lincoln

## Author
Jeff Schogol is the senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. He reports on both the Defense Department as a whole as well as individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/jdschogol/>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-schogol-188a9317/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JeffSchogol>)