A fire broke out on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier of the U.S. military, while on a mission in the Red Sea. Two crew members were injured, but it was confirmed that the ship remains operational as usual.
The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet revealed that the fire occurred in the main laundry area of the USS Gerald R. Ford. Officials were able to quickly control the blaze. The two crew members sustained minor injuries and are in stable condition. It was confirmed that the fire was unrelated to any combat operations.
This aircraft carrier has a displacement of about 100,000 tons and a crew of approximately 4,500. It is considered the most modern and largest warship in the U.S. Navy, continuing its mission in the Middle East region.
Currently, the USS Gerald R. Ford is conducting operations in the Red Sea after moving southward from the Mediterranean Sea, following the start of U.S. attacks on Iran.
This deployment is a long and complex mission. The ship departed from its base in Norfolk, Virginia, in June last year, crossed the Atlantic to Europe, then returned to the Caribbean to support operations in Venezuela, before being sent back to the Middle East again.
This fire incident adds to ongoing issues with the $13 billion aircraft carrier. Previously, U.S. media reported multiple problems with the ship's sanitation and restroom systems, requiring external technicians to conduct dozens of repairs over the past few years.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military also has another aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed in the Middle East to bolster military strength in the region amid rising security tensions.
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