- The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, is sailing to Crete for repairs following a significant fire in the ship’s laundry and berthing areas.
- The fire, which broke out on March 12, resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two sailors and displaced approximately 600 crew members due to smoke and water damage.
- While the Ford departs the Red Sea for Souda Bay, the remainder of its Carrier Strike Group remains on station to continue military operations against Iran.
The USS Gerald R. Ford has been forced to pause its role in the ongoing conflict with Iran to undergo emergency repairs in Greece.
Eko Hot Blog reports that US military officials confirmed on Thursday, March 19, 2026, that the carrier is heading to Souda Bay, Crete, after a fire severely impacted the vessel’s living and laundry facilities last week.
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The incident, which the military clarified was not combat-related, triggered a massive 30-hour response effort.
While the fire itself did not burn for the entire duration, the time was required to extinguish the flames, manage extensive water damage, and ensure the area was safe from flare-ups.
Reports indicate that over 100 beds were destroyed, leaving roughly 600 sailors temporarily without their assigned sleeping quarters.
The Ford has been a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, serving as the primary launchpad for fighter jets patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.
Its departure comes at a sensitive time for US operations in the Middle East, though the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group remains in the region to maintain a naval presence.
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed the situation during a Pentagon briefing, expressing gratitude that the injured sailors are in stable condition.
Despite the mechanical and habitability setbacks, the Pentagon maintains that the strike group’s destroyers, the USS Mahan, USS Bainbridge, and USS Winston S. Churchill, will continue their mission without their flagship for the duration of the repairs.
The Ford’s current deployment, which began in June 2025 with a mission to the Caribbean, is approaching a historical milestone.
If the carrier remains deployed through mid-April, it will set a post-Vietnam record for the longest continuous deployment of a US aircraft carrier.
