&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Tears, hugs and homecoming: USS Gerald R Ford returns to US after record 326-day deployment - VIDEO")
The USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier returned home to the United States on Saturday (May 16) after a 326-day deployment in West Asia, the Pentagon said.
Emotional scenes unfolded as sailors from the USS Gerald R Ford reunited with their families after nearly 11 months at sea. Children ran into the arms of their fathers, spouses embraced through tears, and loved ones waved flags and held welcome-home banners at the dock. The long-awaited homecoming brought moments of joy, relief, and pride after one of the US Navy’s longest deployments in decades.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was present in Norfolk, Virginia to welcome home the largest aircraft carrier in the world. It was the longest deployment for a US carrier strike group since the Vietnam War. The USS Gerald R Ford played a central role in a series of high-profile US military and maritime security operations across the Caribbean region including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. Soon after, it sailed to West Asia and was deployed near Iran as the US and Israel launched war against the Islamic Republic. The carrier strike group also assisted in maritime surveillance, interdiction missions, and regional security patrols as the US expanded its military presence in the Western Hemisphere amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Chaos plagued the aircraft
The USS Gerald R Ford’s marathon deployment was not just defined by combat missions but it was also plagued by chaos onboard. In March, a massive fire broke out inside the carrier’s laundry section, sending thick smoke through crew quarters and injuring sailors as emergency teams battled the blaze for hours. Nearly 100 beds were destroyed, leaving exhausted crew members scrambling for sleeping space aboard the world’s largest warship. Reports of severe plumbing failures and clogged toilets added to the misery during the 326-day deployment. Sailors reportedly faced overflowing sewage systems and deteriorating living conditions while the nuclear-powered carrier remained at the centre of major US military operation.
What we know about USS Gerald Ford?
USS Gerald Ford was commissioned in 2017 at the cost of $13 billion. It was revealed that it had a vacuum-based sewage system adapted from cruise ships to conserve water. It is most expensive warship ever built. As per reports, the carrier supports 4,500+ sailors and over 600 toilets divided into 10 independent zones.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)
