The US aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford" docked today at the Souda naval base on the island of Crete, reports the Greek TV "Sky". The vessel arrived this morning at 10 a.m. The aircraft carrier is participating in military operations against Iran, BTA reported.
Investigators are expected to board the vessel to take statements from the command staff and crew in connection with the fire that broke out on board a few days ago.
According to official information, on March 12, a fire broke out in the aircraft carrier's laundry room, which spread through the ventilation system. It took several hours to bring the fire under control. fire. Two people were injured, another 200 people had respiratory problems due to smoke.
After the incident, about 600 crew members did not have access to their cabins and had to be accommodated in other places. The laundry room was not functioning.
According to official information from the Pentagon, the aircraft carrier's specialized systems were not affected. Due to the technical problems that arose and the need to investigate what happened, it was decided to return the aircraft carrier to the naval base in Souda, where an inspection and repair work would be carried out.
It is currently unclear how long the warship will remain on the island of Crete. It is expected that it will then return to the United States, the Greek television "Sky" also reports.
In June 2025, "Gerald Ford" was sent to the Caribbean Sea to participate in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. It was then ordered to sail for the Eastern Mediterranean, arriving at the Suda base on February 23.
On March 5, the aircraft carrier, accompanied by the ship "Brainbridge", passed through the Strait of Hormuz on its way to the Red Sea, where US naval forces were stationed.