USS Gerald Ford heads to port for repairs after fire aboard aircraft carrier

Published March 17, 2026 8:32pm ET



The USS Gerald Ford is headed for service repairs in Crete days after experiencing an hourslong fire while deployed in the Red Sea for service in the Iran war.

The aircraft carrier will spend over a week in port at the Naval Support Activity Souda Bay for repairs, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. The ship’s move from the Middle East comes after a fire that started in the laundry area on Thursday reportedly burned through part of the ship’s sleeping quarters and lasted about 30 hours before it was extinguished.

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