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. 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. 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.

Source: Egypt Independent March 18, 2026 15:54 UTC