U.S Aircraft Carrier Gerald Ford On Fire, 2 Sailors Injured (Photos)
🇺🇸 A fire broke out aboard aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) on Thursday, multiple sources confirmed to USNI News.
The initial fire has been extinguished, but the crew is still doing damage control, according to a U.S. official. Naval Sea Systems Command’s Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center is preparing to help the fleet with electrical support, USNI News understands.
“On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces,” reads a U.S. Central Command statement posted to social media website X. “The cause of the fire was not combat-related and is contained.
There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational. Two sailors are currently receiving medical treatment for injuries and are in stable condition. Additional information will be provided when available.”
As of Wednesday, Ford was operating in the northern part of the Red Sea, off the coast of Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia, according to a ship spotter. Ford and three of its escorts – USS Mahan (DDG-72), USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) – transited the Suez Canal last week.
The Ford Carrier Strike Group has been participating in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran that is nearing the end of its second week.
The carrier has been deployed since June of 2025 and has been extended multiple times. Last month, the Pentagon extended Ford and tasked the carrier to the Middle East ahead of the start of the war with Iran.
🇺🇸 As many as 150 U.S. troops have been wounded in the 10-day-old war with Iran, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
The casualty figure has not been previously reported. Prior to Reuters' publication of the figure, the Pentagon had only disclosed eight U.S. personnel seriously injured.
In a statement after Reuters published its report, the Pentagon estimated the figure to be approximately 140 wounded and said the vast majority of them were minor.
"Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 140 U.S. service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks," said chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
He said 108 of the wounded service members had already returned to duty. Parnell said the eight seriously wounded service members were receiving the highest level of medical care.
Reuters could not determine the types of injuries and whether they include traumatic brain injuries, which are common after exposure to blasts.
Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military bases since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28. It has also struck diplomatic missions in Arab Gulf states as well as hotels and airports and damaged oil infrastructure.
"We have various types of underwater missiles, they (U.S) should be cautious.
There are only 2 countries in the world that have underwater missiles. One is the original missile manufacturer, which is Russia and then there's us.
In fact we have the capability to launch from a submarine to the surface. We are in a very unique position to launch underwater missiles that move at 100 meters per second.
The Americans spent $20 billion and over 15 years trying to achieve this speed underwater, they couldn’t. But the Russians achieved it. The Soviets had achieved it.
We are equipped with that missile."
JUST IN: 🇮🇷 IRGC commander says Iran is ready to use 100 m/s underwater missiles, claims only Russia and Iran have them. pic.twitter.com/vVzjpDuocW
The 🇺🇸 US military has lost 11 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the US-Israel war on Iran, according to US officials cited by CBS News, marking one of the most significant equipment losses of the war.
Two additional drones were recently shot down, bringing the total number destroyed to 11.
The total cost of the lost aircraft is estimated at more than $330 million.
MQ-9 Reaper drones are unmanned aerial vehicles used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as precision strike operations.
However, defence officials say the aircraft are easier to target in environments with advanced air defence systems.
Foreign Affairs › U.S Aircraft Carrier Gerald Ford On Fire, 2 Sailors Injured (Photos) by Kaliningrad(op): 10:48am On Mar 14
