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In March, a fire broke out aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, during operations against Iran.
At the time, the US Navy issued a brief statement saying the fire had been “contained,” that two sailors suffered “non-life-threatening injuries,” and that the ship remained “fully operational.” However, newly obtained video footage reveals the incident was far more severe than initially portrayed.
The footage shows sleeping quarters completely destroyed by the fire. Bunks were reduced to charred, twisted metal, with the ceiling above hollowed out and wires hanging loose.
Ashes scattered the floor, illustrating the intense damage inflicted. One sailor on board described the ordeal to CNN: “I seriously thought we were going to lose the ship.
It’s either fight or die.”
According to that sailor and a senior US official familiar with the event, the ship’s fire-suppression system failed during the blaze, forcing sailors to manually battle the fire. The official indicated the Navy’s public statements downplayed the fire’s impact on the Ford’s operational capabilities. In reality, it took two days before the carrier could resume flight operations, and the ship had to dock in Greece for temporary repairs.
The fire took approximately 30 hours to extinguish and clean up. About 600 sailors lost access to their bunks due to the extensive damage.
The sailor who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed frustration, noting the fire shouldn’t have escalated as it did: “The fire-suppression system built into the ship should have put it out. Everybody – me included – helped put the fire out.”
The USS Gerald R. Ford’s recent 11-month deployment was unprecedented in length and intensity, involving conflict with Iran and US military actions in Venezuela. The ship played a key role in bombing missions against Iranian targets, despite facing persistent threats from enemy missiles and attack drones.
One sailor recalled witnessing Iranian munitions streaking across the sky in the Red Sea, with the ship sounding alerts and preparing for potential damage control. Alongside these dangers, the crew also contended with less glamorous issues like persistent toilet malfunctions, which forced sailors to traverse the length of the ship to find working facilities.
Despite these challenges, experts credit the crew’s training and resilience for the ship’s swift recovery. Hunter Stires, a former maritime strategist, emphasized the Navy’s rigorous focus on damage control and system redundancies to ensure ship survivability. “War and battle damage is inherently unpredictable,” Stires said, highlighting the importance of preparedness.
Commissioned in 2017, the Ford represents the newest and most advanced carrier in the US fleet. Its cutting-edge electronic catapult system allows it to launch a variety of aircraft, including drones-a capability unique among the Navy’s carriers. The Ford’s deployment also included support for the US operation targeting former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with stops throughout the Mediterranean and Norway.
Following the extensive deployment and fire damage, the USS Gerald R. Ford is entering an extended maintenance period.
Officials estimate it could be at least a year before the carrier is fully mission-ready again, meaning other ships will need to fill the operational gap. This episode underscores both the impressive capabilities and the vulnerabilities of America’s flagship naval asset.