Navy Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones

Died September 22, 2013 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

35, of Lompoc, Calif., assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Calif.; died Sept. 22 as a result of an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crash while operating in the central Red Sea. Also killed in the incident was Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Gibson.

Navy names two officers killed in Red Sea helo crash

Staff report

The Navy on Tuesday released the names of two officers killed in the helicopter crash Sunday over the Red Sea.

Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jonathon Shelby Gibson were assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6, based out of Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Officials are continuing to investigate what caused their MH-60S Knighthawk to crash, but hostile fire has been ruled out. The officers had been operating in the central Red Sea with the destroyer William P. Lawrence.

Contrary to previous reports, there were not five sailors aboard the helicopter when it crashed, a Navy official said. The three other sailors initially thought to be on the helo had disembarked on the Lawrence, the official said.

Jones, 35, of Lompoc, Calif., is a Navy Academy grad who was commissioned in May 2001. His awards and decorations include: a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals; the Navy “E” Ribbon; and the National Defense Medal.

Gibson, 32, of Aurora, Ore., was commissioned in December 2008. He previously served as a naval air crewman first class (NAC/AW). His awards and decorations include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals; the Navy “E” Ribbon; three Good Conduct Medals and the Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.