US Navy calls off search for missing pilot in Arabian Sea, declares pilot deceased

Bahrain: US Navy ends search for missing pilot

MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. Navy says it has called off search and rescue efforts for a pilot who went missing after his plane crashed in the Persian Gulf region late last month and have declared him deceased.

The U.S. Navy said in a statement Saturday that Lt. Steven Zilberman’s plane went down in the North Arabian Sea on March 31 after it “experienced mechanical malfunctions.”

Three other crew members survived the crash without significant injuries, but Zilberman couldn’t be found.

Zilberman was flying an E-2C Hawkeye, which is primarily used to detect incoming aircraft with its 24-foot diameter radar.

The Ukrainian-born pilot was from Columbus, Ohio, and had served in the Navy for eight years.