Eight suicide attempts reported in USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group
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Güneşli
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Güneşli
The US Navy has confirmed that eight personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group attempted suicide during a months-long deployment in the Middle East amid the US conflict with Iran.
Cao said the reported cases involved personnel across the strike group, including sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln, its carrier air wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers and other aviation units.
He said no personnel died by suicide during the deployment. At least two of the incidents involved attempts to go overboard from the ship.
The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class USS Abraham Lincoln left California in November 2025 for a routine deployment before being redirected to the Middle East in January 2026 as tensions with Iran escalated.
The carrier strike group remained at sea for about 286 days, with roughly 5,000 personnel aboard the aircraft carrier. The ship arrived in Thailand in early September after one of the longest deployments in its history.
According to Cao's letter, one sailor assigned to the carrier's air wing went overboard in August but was quickly rescued, received medical treatment and was later transferred from the ship for further care.
In March, another sailor attempted to go overboard but was stopped by fellow crew members and provided medical assistance.
The extended deployment has sparked debate over sailors' mental health, fatigue and living conditions aboard the carrier.
US media reports said some personnel and families raised concerns over low morale, long working hours and shortages of some basic supplies during the deployment.
The US Navy said the ship had mental health support resources, including psychologists, behavioural health specialists, social workers, counsellors and chaplains, and stressed that no suicide deaths occurred during the deployment.
The disclosure came after officials, including President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, had previously rejected reports about poor conditions aboard the carrier. Senator Gillibrand said the newly released figures showed the seriousness of concerns raised about the wellbeing of service members.(ILKHA)
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