Massive fire keeps USS Gerald R. Ford away from the Red Sea

2026-03-18 - 10:02

US military reports and official statements revealed details of the massive fire that broke out aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea. According to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the fire, which started on March 12 in the main laundry rooms, was an internal accident unrelated to any combat operations. Although the ship’s nuclear propulsion system was not damaged and maintained its operational capability, the technical repercussions of the incident forced the command to withdraw the carrier from the operational theater. The New York Times reported that efforts to control the fire continued for more than 30 consecutive hours, presenting significant challenges for the carrier’s crew. The thick smoke caused dozens of cases of suffocation, in addition to injuries to two sailors, whose conditions were described as stable. The structural damage also temporarily deprived more than 600 sailors of their sleeping quarters, forcing them to sleep on the floor and tables while firefighting and cooling efforts continued. In a later development reported by USNI News on March 17, the aircraft carrier headed to the Souda Bay Naval Base on the Greek island of Crete for essential repairs to the damaged electrical systems. These operations are expected to take at least a week, adding to the burden on the crew, who are now in their tenth month of deployment with the addition of Operation Epic Fury.