US Lawmakers Demand Investigation After Reports of Sailors Trying to Jump Ship on Overextended Carrier

Lawmakers in the United States have raised the alarm over reports of dire conditions on an aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East amid the US-Israel war with Iran, including accounts of sailors trying to jump overboard.

The response has included a direct appeal to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, asking for further information about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln and demanding that a bipartisan congressional delegation be allowed to visit the ship.

In a letter to Hegseth, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal noted that the aircraft carrier, with more than 5,000 US sailors and Marines, has been continuously at sea for a record length of nearly seven months, surpassing any previous deployment without a port stop.

Blumenthal noted that the vessel’s mission was meant to end in May but has been repeatedly extended amid the war on Iran, a conflict remaining in a state of grinding limbo.

He pointed to reports of deteriorating mental health on board, as well as shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, an increase in safety incidents, and disruptions to mail services.

Senator Ruben Gallego called for a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to visit the USS Lincoln to conduct an oversight investigation, while Senator Mark Kelly described the reports of sailors attempting to jump into the sea as disturbing.

Reports of declining mental health and morale, along with cases of suicidal ideation, were highlighted by military publications Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, citing family members such as Annabelle Loma and Maria Rodriguez.

CNN reported that a sailor went overboard last month and was quickly rescued, while the navy stated that its leadership is continuously conducting assessments to monitor and sustain the psychological readiness of every sailor.