A recently released CNN video has contradicted the US Navy's initial claims regarding a fire that broke out on the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier on 12/3. While the warship was on a mission, the Navy announced the blaze in a laundry room 'had been contained' and did not affect operations. They added that two sailors sustained non-life-threatening injuries. However, the footage shows a damaged crew berthing area, indicating a more serious incident than initially reported.

Released on 4/6, the video reveals an incinerated crew berthing compartment, with only metal frames remaining. Flames appeared to have hollowed out the ceiling, and piles of ash were scattered across the floor. This marks the first public display of the supercarrier's damage following the fire. CNN stated, "The images show the fire was more serious and caused more damage than the information released by the US Navy."

A malfunctioning firefighting system compounded the fire's severity, according to a sailor on board and a senior US official. This failure made it difficult for personnel to control the blaze. "I truly thought we were going to lose the ship," the sailor recounted. The crew spent about 30 hours controlling the fire, cleaning up, and preventing re-ignition. Another sailor commented, "Things shouldn't have been that bad; the firefighting system should have extinguished the fire. Many of us were involved in fighting the blaze."

The US official explained that the Navy sought to downplay the fire's impact in its March announcement because the warship was on combat duty at the time. "The incident truly affected the ship's operational capability," the individual told CNN. When asked for comment, a US Navy spokesperson stated that "the investigation is ongoing."

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on 16/5. Photo: AP

In April, US Navy Commander Daryl Caudle acknowledged that aircraft could only resume launching and landing two days after the fire. The supercarrier also had to dock in Greece for preliminary repairs. After the Ford returned to its homeport in Virginia in May, Admiral Caudle conceded that "large fires are always a challenge." He stated, "The fire in the laundry and drying room was serious. The crew handled the situation well, fighting the fire bravely, then returned to duty in just a few days."

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the most expensive warship in US Navy history at nearly 13 billion USD, has a displacement of 100,000 tons and a length of 337 meters. Despite its advanced capabilities, the warship has faced many challenges since its construction, including delays, cost overruns, and operational issues during deployments. The fire was not the only problem the Ford aircraft carrier encountered during its record 326-day deployment.

In February, US media reported a persistent "toilet crisis" on board the ship. The toilet system frequently clogged due to design flaws and the demands of long deployments at sea. This issue was so common that a US Navy official confirmed the ship's wastewater drainage system, which uses vacuum technology to transfer waste from about 650 toilets, malfunctioned during the Ford's operational deployment, requiring technicians to perform daily repairs. "If we were in the bow, we had to walk all the way to the stern of the warship to find a working toilet," a sailor recounted.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is currently undergoing maintenance following its deployment, which includes additional repairs to address the aftermath of the laundry room fire. A US official stated that it could take at least one year for the warship to be ready to sail again, requiring other aircraft carriers to take over its missions.

Nguyen Tien (According to CNN, Reuters)