Fire breaks out aboard USS Zumwalt, three sailors injured

April 23, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

A fire erupted late Sunday night aboard the US Navy’s destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) while it was docked at HII Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, leaving three sailors injured.

The US Navy confirmed the fire on Wednesday, April 22, in a statement to USNI News, noting that an investigation is underway.

The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. on April 19, 2026. According to initial reports, the ship’s crew managed to contain and extinguish the fire before local emergency responders were required to assist.

One sailor was taken to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition, while the other two were treated on site for minor injuries.

Officials are currently working to determine what caused the blaze and to assess any damage to the vessel. No additional details have been released so far.

USS Zumwalt recently completed builder’s sea trials after undergoing a major modernization process. The aim is to turn the destroyer into the US Navy’s first surface combatant capable of firing hypersonic missiles.

USS Zumwalt, US Navy’s first hypersonic warship, clears builder’s sea trials

Vessels

The US Navy formally accepted delivery of USS Zumwalt in April 2020. The ship was constructed by General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works, while Raytheon integrated defense systems served as the prime contractor for the Zumwalt combat system, leading activation and integration activities for the class in both Bath, Maine, and San Diego, California.