Video shows effects of intense fire that forced the world's most powerful warship to return to port

Newly released video has revealed the extent of damage caused by a fire aboard the USS Gerald R Ford, US Navy's newest aircraft carrier. The fire broke out in March while the carrier was deployed in the Red Sea.

The footage was obtained by CNN, which shows a blackened compartment, melted fittings and heavily damaged berthing areas. According to the report, one sailor aboard the carrier described the situation as either fight or die. He said, “I seriously thought we are going to lose the ship”. He further stated the ship's fire suppression system failed to work, leaving the sailors scrambling to put out the fire.



At the time of the incident, US navy had said the fire was quickly contained and the does not affects the ship operational capabilities. But the video tells a different story. The video clearly shows the fire was more severe and damaging than navy suggested.



What happened in March

On March 12 a fire broke out on Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, while operating in the Red sea, supporting US military operations against Iran. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the fire originated in the ship’s main laundry area, injuring two sailors who received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Navy said there was no damage to the ship's propulsion system and the aircraft carrier remained operational. Following the fire the carrier withdrew from operations in the red sea and sailed to Souda Bay in Greece for repairs and resupply before moving to Croatia for additional maintenance.

Reuters reported that nearly 200 sailors were treated for smoke-related injuries and roughly 100 sleeping berths were damaged in the accident. The fire wasn’t the only issue; the ship toilets systems were repeatedly clogged during its deployment.


USS Gerald R Ford and its record deployment

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of the US Navy's newest class of aircraft carriers called the Ford Class. The vessel is considered the most advanced aircraft carrier in the world. Displacing around 100,000 tonnes, the nuclear-powered ship can operate for decades without refuelling and carries more than 75 aircraft, including the F-35C stealth fighters, F/A-18 Super Hornets, electronic warfare aircraft and helicopters.

It is equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapults (EMALS), modern radar systems and is designed to launch more sorties than previous US carrier classes.

The carrier recently completed a 326-day deployment, the longest by a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War era. During the deployment the carrier operated across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean taking part in NATO activities. The ship also participated in the US operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean and later against Iran in the Red Sea.

The record deployment highlighted the challenges of keeping a modern aircraft carrier at sea for extended periods. The nearly 11-month mission delayed maintenance cycles. For the US Navy, it is a reminder that even the world's most advanced aircraft carriers have operational limits and require constant maintenance, logistics and manpower to remain combat ready.