US Navy Confirms Eight Suicide Attempts Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Amid Grueling Deployment

Acting United States Navy Secretary Hung Cao has officially confirmed that personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East experienced "eight suicide attempts," which included at least two instances of crew members jumping overboard during their deployment.

In a letter addressed to US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday, Cao outlined details regarding fleet quality of life and personnel morale. He responded on behalf of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following inquiries about crew self-harm reports. While Cao noted that no service members died by suicide during the deployment, incidents involving individuals attempting to go overboard did occur.

The letter specified that the affected individuals included "the Lincoln crew and sailors from the carrier airwing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers and all embarked aviation squadrons."

What is the USS Abraham Lincoln?

The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is recognized by the Navy as one of the largest warships globally. Set to depart from California in November 2025 for routine deployment to the South China Sea, the carrier was redirected in January to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) region in the Middle East due to escalating tensions with Iran.

Following the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran in late February, the vessel engaged in combat operations and enforced the US naval blockade on Iranian ports. The roughly 5,000-strong crew spent 286 days at sea before disembarking in Thailand on September 1, establishing a record for the longest deployment without substantial land breaks, save for a brief stop last December.

US media reports linked supply shortages to Iranian attacks on regional military sites, notably the heavy damage sustained by the naval base in Bahrain early in the conflict. Consequently, the Navy utilized the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia as its primary supply hub.

What Does Cao’s Letter Detail?

Cao confirmed a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group. He highlighted an incident in early August where a sailor assigned to the air wing jumped overboard, was quickly recovered, received medical treatment, and was transferred off the ship for follow-on care. In March, another sailor attempted to go overboard but was restrained by shipmates and subsequently provided immediate medical care before returning to homeport.

The Navy chief stated that the carrier was deployed with multiple mental health resources, including a psychologist, three behavioral health technicians, a clinical social worker, an embedded integrated prevention counselor, a facility dog, and five chaplains.

Addressing resupply limitations, Cao acknowledged that participation in major combat operations reduced main course meal options from two to one. However, he emphasized that the Navy prioritized hygiene products, fresh provisions, and critical repair parts. He also confirmed that plumbing issues experienced earlier in the deployment were resolved by the shipboard engineering team.

Reactions and Previous Reports

Prior to Cao's disclosure, a crew member informed CNN that onboard morale was exceptionally low, with suicidal ideation frequently expressed. Families of sailors also voiced concerns regarding mental health, exhaustion, and safety during a meeting with Cao.

CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper subsequently visited the vessel, praising the team's operational intensity and resilience. Defense Secretary Hegseth and US President Donald Trump previously dismissed reports of poor conditions as misrepresentations and "fake news." In response, Senator Gillibrand criticized the administration's dismissal, asserting that the reports reflect serious and deteriorating conditions for service members.