US forced to withdraw aircraft carrier from Mideast after suffering fire damage

USS Gerald R. Ford damaged by fire that blazed for 30 hours, forcing the US Navy to withdraw its newest aircraft carrier from the Red Sea.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States has ordered its most advanced nuclear aircraft carrier to withdraw from the Middle East after it suffered fire damage last week, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

The fire reportedly broke out on the USS Gerald R. Ford on March 12 and raged for more than 30 hours before sailors were finally able to extinguish the blaze.

The US Navy confirmed that the fire had been sparked on board the ship but emphasized that it was not a result of combat damage.

According to the Times report, the fire started in the carrier’s main laundry area.

One sailor was airlifted from the ship and is said to be in stable condition. Two other sailors were lightly injured and have returned to duty.

The damage caused by the fire has left 600 members of the ship’s crew without berths to sleep in, forcing them to sleep on tables or on the floor, officials said.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is slated to depart the Red Sea and return to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal before anchoring in Crete for repairs.

The incident has highlighted concerns over the ship’s lengthy deployment.

While American aircraft carriers typically deploy for six months at a time, the USS Gerald R. Ford is now in its 10th month at sea.

Despite the damage and the extended deployment time, the Times reported that crew members have said the Navy has informed them that they will likely remain at sea into May.

That would make the USS Gerald R. Ford’s total deployment time a full year, the longest ever recorded for an American aircraft carrier, beating out the previous record set by the USS Midway during the Vietnam War.