USS Gerald R. Ford Departs Red Sea for Fire Repairs

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States Navy's most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is departing the Red Sea for repairs at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete. The move follows a non-combat fire on March 12 that began in an aft laundry facility and spread through ventilation into sleeping quarters, injuring two sailors and displacing approximately 600 personnel.

While initial reports suggested the blaze burned for 30 hours, a U.S. official clarified that this period encompassed the entire response, cleanup, and prevention of flare-ups. The United States Navy is currently investigating whether crew members deliberately started the fire.

The carrier had been conducting strike sorties under Operation Epic Fury to counter Iranian threats to shipping near the Strait of Hormuz during a deployment that began in June 2025. As the Ford undergoes pier-side repairs, the rest of its strike group will remain on station, and the USS George H.W. Bush is expected to deploy as relief.