NORFOLK, Va. — Navy officials have confirmed that the death of a sailor on the flight line of Naval Station Norfolk on Monday was not a mishap, but instead has been ruled a suicide by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service.
RELATED
Cmdr. Dave Hecht, spokesman for Naval Air Forces, Atlantic, confirmed to Navy Times that NCIS had investigated the incident, but could not confirm any further details about the death.
In a press release sent out Monday, Navy officials said only that the sailor worked as a helicopter maintenance technician.
Officials initially said that the sailor’s and squadron’s identities would be released 24 hours after family was notified, normal procedure for accidental and combat deaths.
RELATED
Navy Times has learned, however, that those rules change with a ruling of a suicide. This means no public release of the sailor’s identity or what squadron the sailor was assigned to will be forthcoming.
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
