Navy, Coast Guard search for missing sailor off North Carolina coast

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 10 (UPI) -- The Navy and the Coast Guard are searching for a sailor who went missing Saturday afternoon from a ship off the coast of North Carolina.

The third-class petty officer is presumed to have fallen off the dock landing ship during a training mission.

"The ship was conducting training operations off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina," said Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Hawkins. "The ship immediately launched a helicopter to begin search and rescue operations."

A pair of boots with a note was found on the deck near the rear of the ship, the Navy Times reported.

Assisting in the mission was the destroyer McFaul, a helicopter and two F/A-18s. The Coast Guard joined the search overnight.