Eight sailors attempted suicide during US aircraft carrier's extended mission

Key facts

• Eight sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during a 286-day deployment.
• Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed the suicide attempts in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
• The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group was involved in combat operations related to the conflict with Iran.
• The Navy stated five chaplains and multiple mental health professionals were available on board.
• The Navy acknowledged localized piping failures and issues with desalination units but denied widespread concerns about plumbing and food shortages.

Eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during their extended 286-day deployment at sea, Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed in a written response to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The disclosure came in response to questions from the Democratic Senator regarding the well-being of sailors onboard, following concerns from family members about deteriorating mental health and conditions during the lengthy mission.

Cao stated in the letter, dated September 22, that while no suicides occurred, there were a total of eight attempts among the crew of the carrier and its accompanying vessels. The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with approximately 5,000 personnel, was involved in combat operations related to the conflict with Iran. The strike group arrived in eastern Thailand in August after its deployment, which began last November.

In his letter, Cao noted that five chaplains and multiple mental health professionals were available to address the crew's needs. He clarified that the eight attempts included personnel from the carrier, its airwing, strike group staff, escorting destroyers, and embarked aviation squadrons. The Navy denied widespread concerns about broken plumbing and food shortages, though Cao acknowledged temporary "localized piping failures" and issues with reverse osmosis desalination units, as well as a reduction in main entree options for a short period.