USS Gerald R. Ford fire causes extensive damage and temporary operational halt

In March, a fire broke out aboard the U.S. Navy's $13 billion supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford during operations against Iran. The Navy initially said the blaze was "under control" and that the ship remained fully operational, with two sailors sustaining only minor injuries.

CNN‑obtained video later showed far greater destruction: crew berthing areas were gutted, beds reduced to twisted metal, and the ship’s fire‑control system failed, forcing sailors to fight the blaze manually. About 600 crew members lost their sleeping berths, and the fire required roughly 30 hours to extinguish, clean up, and secure.

The carrier was unable to conduct flight operations for two days and was forced to dock in a Greek port for temporary repairs. An investigation into the cause of the fire and the failure of the automatic fire‑suppression system remains ongoing.