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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Mark Saunokonoko and agencies

Fire damage, clogged toilets, and sinking morale: USS Gerald R Ford to set sail for repairs in Crete

USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier departing Souda Bay, Crete with tugboat assistance
The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete on 26 February, 2026. The carrier has suffered problems during its extended deployment. Photograph: Costas Metaxakis/AFP/Getty Images

A fire onboard the USS Gerald R Ford, injuring sailors and destroying 100 beds, is the latest mishap to plague the world’s largest aircraft carrier on a marathon deployment some argue has sapped crew morale.

At sea for almost nine months, and currently stationed in the Red Sea to support the war on Iran, the carrier will reportedly set sail for Crete for repairs.

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