USS Gerald R. Ford to undergo maintenance after onboard fire and plumbing issues
By Riley Ceder
Jul 9, 2026, 02:52 PM
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford pulled into Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, on July 7, 2026, in advance of its Planned Incremental Availability. (Shelby West/U.S. Navy)
The world’s largest aircraft carrier pulled into Norfolk Naval Shipyard on Tuesday to begin scheduled repairs after wrapping up the longest post-Vietnam carrier deployment.
The USS Gerald R. Ford and its sailors returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on May 16 following 326 days at sea that saw a non-combat fire in the main laundry room and significant plumbing issues. The Ford most notably operated in the Middle East in support of U.S. Central Command and Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
“This marks Gerald R. Ford’s first regularly scheduled availability at a public shipyard as well as the first time a Ford-class aircraft carrier has been serviced at NNSY,” the Navy said.
The ship will undergo modernizations and inspections and is set to finish its aircraft carrier availability early, the service said.
The maintenance period will likely address a fire that broke out in the ship’s laundry room March 12, injuring multiple sailors, inducing smoke-related injuries among hundreds of personnel and damaging 100 sleeping berths.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/07/09/uss-gerald-r-ford-to-undergo-maintenance-after-onboard-fire-and-plumbing-issues/
