Another US aircraft carrier struck by onboard fire

April 16, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Another US aircraft carrier has suffered a fire while undergoing maintenance, following a similar incident aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford.

The incident occurred onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on April 14 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, as reported by USNI News.

Eisenhower has been docked since early 2025 for scheduled maintenance. According to the info provided by a navy spokesperson, the fire was small and quickly brought under control by the ship’s crew alongside shipyard personnel, who responded immediately.

Three sailors sustained minor injuries during the incident. They were treated by the ship’s onboard medical team and were able to return to duty shortly afterward, officials added.

The aircraft carrier arrived at the Virginia-based facility in January 2025 following a lengthy deployment spanning 2023–2024 in support of operations under the US 5th Fleet. Since then, the carrier has been undergoing a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), a maintenance cycle designed to ensure the ship’s long-term operational readiness.

The overhaul includes upgrades and repairs to critical systems such as propulsion, combat capabilities, aviation support infrastructure, and crew living conditions. It remains unclear whether the fire will impact the timeline of this maintenance period, which has already kept the carrier in port for over 16 months.

To remind, a similar incident recently happened aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, when the ship experienced a fire during operations in the Red Sea. The navy said the fire originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces and was not combat-related. The crew quickly contained the blaze.