USS Gerald R. Ford Diverts to Crete Following Onboard Fire

The USS Gerald R. Ford is currently en route to Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete to undergo repairs after a fire broke out in the ship's laundry facilities on March 12. While the vessel remains fully operational and suffered no damage to its propulsion systems, the incident necessitated a medical evacuation for one sailor injured during damage control efforts. Additionally, more than 200 crew members required treatment for smoke inhalation, and the blaze reportedly destroyed over 100 sleeping berths.

This unscheduled stop adds to an already grueling deployment for the carrier’s crew, who departed Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2025. Having spent over eight months at sea and engaged in combat operations across two hemispheres, the ship is currently participating in missions involving air strikes on Iran. The fire, which officials confirmed was not combat-related, required 30 hours of intensive damage control work to address. An investigation into the cause of the blaze is currently underway as the crew continues one of the longest Navy deployments seen since the Vietnam War.