
An investigation into the drownings of two Navy SEALs during a mission to intercept Iranian missile parts has determined that their deaths could have been prevented. Chief Special Warfare Operator Christopher J. Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Gage Ingram drowned in January while attempting to board a suspected smuggling vessel in the Arabian Sea.
The investigation, led by Rear Adm. Michael DeVore, found that the SEALs lacked necessary safety measures, such as failsafe systems and buoyancy protection, that could have saved their lives. DeVore cited “deficiencies, gaps, and inconsistencies” in the mission’s execution, which created missed opportunities for safeguards.
Chambers and Ingram went missing on January 11 while boarding an Iranian ship suspected of smuggling weapons to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Chambers fell into the water during the nighttime operation, and Ingram tried to save him. Both sailors, weighed down by heavy equipment, drowned within 47 seconds.
Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, agreed with the report, describing the incident as preventable. He emphasized that proper equipment, personal responsibility, and effective procedures are critical to preventing such tragedies in the future.
The investigation ruled out weather and time as factors, focusing on the lack of operational safeguards. The search for the missing sailors was called off on January 22 after rescue teams were unable to recover their bodies.
Naval Forces Central Command and Naval Special Warfare Command have accepted the findings of the report and are expected to improve safety protocols for future missions.