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US Aircraft Carrier Heads to Souda After 30-Hour Fire – Nearly 200 Sailors Received Medical Attention

Published March 18, 2026, 10:14
US Aircraft Carrier Heads to Souda After 30-Hour Fire – Nearly 200 Sailors Received Medical Attention

The US aircraft carrier «Gerald R. Ford» is heading to the Souda base in Crete after a fire broke out on the ship and lasted for 30 hours. Nearly 200 sailors needed medical attention due to smoke-related injuries. The fire caused damage to approximately 100 sleeping quarters and one sailor had to be evacuated from the ship. The «Gerald R. Ford» is in the Red Sea and participating in US operations against Iran. The duration of its stay in Crete has not been clarified. The fire broke out in the ship's laundry area and took several hours to bring under control. The fire has raised questions about the morale of the sailors and the readiness of the ship, as it has been in service for nine months, having participated in operations in the Caribbean and the Middle East. US authorities have not yet announced the exact cause of the fire, however, an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that caused it.