A 30-hour fire aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford injured nearly 200 sailors and forced the aircraft carrier to head to Crete for repairs amid ongoing investigations.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is heading to Crete for emergency repairs after a fire burned for nearly 30 hours aboard the vessel.
The blaze, which started in a laundry area and spread through ventilation systems, left nearly 200 sailors with smoke-related injuries and destroyed about 100 sleeping berths, forcing hundreds of crew members into makeshift accommodations.
Although the US Navy says the ship remains operational, its temporary withdrawal from the region has raised concerns about reduced naval presence and possible sabotage, as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.