Drownings of two Navy SEALs off Somalia were preventable, Navy investigation finds
The Navy investigation into the drownings of two Navy SEALs off the coast of Somalia has concluded that the incident was preventable. The SEALs, Christopher Chambers and Nathan Ingram, were part of a mission to intercept a vessel transporting Iranian arms to Yemen. During a nighttime operation, Chambers fell overboard, prompting Ingram to jump in to assist him. Despite being equipped with essential gear, both SEALs submerged within a minute. Chambers was visible at the surface for 26 seconds, while Ingram managed to stay afloat for 32 seconds before disappearing.
The investigation found that the weight of their equipment proved too much, and neither their physical abilities nor their emergency flotation devices, if they had been activated, were adequate to keep them afloat. The incident highlighted systemic flaws, including inadequate buoyancy tests and insufficient training with the Flotation System, an emergency flotation device.
General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, noted that the incident was characterized by systemic flaws and was preventable. Both SEALs were posthumously promoted following the tragedy. The Navy has proposed several measures to rectify the systemic issues, including formalizing buoyancy requirements for missions, evaluating the necessity for a fail-safe flotation device, and reviewing lifesaving equipment on Navy boarding vessels.
