CBRN event in United States of America on Sat 13th December 2025

The US Navy master materials licensee reports a loss of 500 microcuries of Sr-90 in an inflight blade inspection system (IBIS), model number 12210-1, serial number 2136. During flight, a CH-53E [helicopter made] a precautionary emergency landing. [Upon landing] visible damage to one main rotor blade [and] three tail rotor blades [was observed,] resulting in the missing IBIS. The incident occurred on December 13, 2025, but a search was delayed due to a snowstorm and ice. After a visual and survey instrument search, the IBIS [was] declared lost on January 5, 2026. [The incident] occurred in a low-population area [in the vicinity of] Manchester Township, New Jersey." THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Less than Cat 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.