US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is participating in a US military operation in the Middle East.
The fire started from the ship's main laundry area on March 12. When the fire was controlled, more than 600 sailors and crew members had lost their sleeping places, having to temporarily lie on the floor or table, US officials and sailors revealed.
According to the 2 officials, the fire originated from the ventilation system of the dryer in the laundry area and quickly spread. Sailors struggled for more than 30 hours to control the fire.
The Central Command affirmed that the fire did not cause damage to the propulsion system and the ship was still operating normally.
The US Central Command said that 2 sailors were injured but not life-threatening. However, people on the US aircraft carrier said that dozens of soldiers were affected by inhaling smoke. A "not serious but major inconvenience" is that many sailors have not been able to wash clothes since the fire.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, along with about 4,500 sailors and pilots, is operating in the Mediterranean on October 24, 2025 before being ordered by War Minister Pete Hegseth to be deployed to the Caribbean region to increase US pressure on Venezuela.
After that, from the Caribbean, this aircraft carrier continued to urgently move to the Middle East to participate in the conflict between the US - Israel and Iran.
In the context of combat, communication with sailors on aircraft carriers is very difficult. Ships and military bases often have to turn off signals to ensure security, making it difficult for soldiers to communicate with the outside world.
Currently, USS Gerald R. Ford has entered its 10th month of deployment. If it continues to operate until mid-April, the ship will break the record for the longest deployment since 1975.
The current record is 294 days, set by the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2020.
Crew members were informed that the mission could last until May, meaning they would have to operate at sea for 1 year, double the normal deployment time of an aircraft carrier.
Usually, the US Navy only deploys aircraft carriers for about 6 months. In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this time can last up to 9 months, but rarely exceeds that level.
The fire is the latest incident in a series of technical problems of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest US aircraft carrier. The ship once had problems with the 650 toilet system, which was assessed as poorly designed and frequently damaged.
The major maintenance is scheduled to take place early this year at the Newport News shipyard, Virginia, but has been postponed.
A military official said that the Pentagon is well aware that the ship has reached the limit of deployment capability. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is currently preparing to be deployed to the Middle East and may replace the mission of USS Gerald R. Ford in the near future.
