Fire damaged US aircraft carrier left in desperate need of repair

19 Mar 2026 • 6:09 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is heading to Crete for repairs after a series of mishaps during its nine-month deployment.
  • A recent fire onboard the $13bn warship injured sailors and destroyed approximately 100 sleeping berths, impacting the morale of the crew.
  • More than 600 sailors lost their beds, and nearly 200 were treated for smoke inhalation, with one service member flown off the ship for injuries.
  • The carrier has also faced significant and costly issues with its toilet system, which is prone to frequent clogging and requires regular acid flushes.
  • The USS Gerald R Ford had been deployed for operations against Venezuela and later stationed in the Middle East for the US-Israeli war against Iran.

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