What happened

Public flight-tracking data showed a US Navy Seahawk using call sign VVHR512 transmit emergency code 7700 while flying at low altitude over the Red Sea near Yanbu. The displayed altitude subsequently fell to zero before the aircraft disappeared from public tracking. VVHR512 is a call sign, not an individual tail or US Navy bureau number; the tracker displayed no registration. Reports disagreed over whether the helicopter was an MH-60R or MH-60S, and social-media claims that it crashed or was downed remained unconfirmed. The US Navy and US Central Command had not publicly confirmed a crash, attack, aircraft loss, crew casualties or recovery operation in the reviewed reporting. The event is recorded as an unresolved aviation emergency and must not be presented as a Houthi shoot-down. The offshore marker is approximate and derived from public flight-tracking imagery rather than an official position report.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.