US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
USS Gerald R. Ford to leave Red Sea for repairs: report
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- A US media report said that a non-combat fire on the USS Gerald R. Ford erupted on March 12, destroying ventilation and electrical systems and displacing many sailors from their living quarters.
- The carrier is heading to Souda Bay, Greece, for at least a week of repairs to critical systems, despite the damage, said the report.
US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is preparing to leave the Red Sea to undergo repairs in the US Navy base on a Greek island after a fire that required several hours of putting out, according to USNI News.
The aircraft carrier will travel to Souda Bay on the island of Crete for repairs that will last for more than a week, according to the report citing a senior US official.
The news comes as the aircraft carrier is participating in the ongoing ‘Israeli’-US war on Iran.
Read more: US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 18 coverage
The fire occurred on March 12 in aft laundry facility, and it resulted in “major damage control” that displaced US troops on the carrier and disrupted operations on the ship.
USNI news added that one sailor was medically evacuated after being injured while controlling the fire. The report said he was in stable condition.
Two others were also treated for lacerations.
“The ship's force is inspecting and overhauling affected spaces, and the cause of the fire is under investigation,” a spokesperson for US 5th Fleet told USNI News in a statement.
“The ship continues to operate in the Red Sea, accomplishing US Central Command tasking in support of Operation Epic Fury.”
The report also contrasted another one by the New York Times, which said the fire lasted for 30 hours.
“One source told USNI News that the damage control efforts, like ensuring the fire had not spread, lasted for more than a day,” USNI news said.
