Reports of US sailors in Middle East trying to jump ship spark outcry

What the report says

U.S. lawmakers have called for scrutiny of conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East during the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. According to Al Jazeera, the concern was triggered by media reports describing worsening morale, possible mental health problems and incidents in which sailors allegedly tried to go overboard. The ship has been at sea for nearly seven months without a port stop, which the report says is a record-long stretch for a U.S. carrier.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth seeking details on the ship’s condition, the length of the deployment and how the Navy is tracking sailors’ mental health. He also raised concerns about shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, safety incidents and delays in mail service. Senator Ruben Gallego separately urged the Navy to let a bipartisan congressional delegation visit the vessel for oversight.

The reports cited by Al Jazeera came from Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, which quoted family members describing severe burnout and low morale among crew members. One account described a sailor attempting to jump overboard, while another said a shipmate had been stopped while preparing to do so. A later CNN report, cited in the article, said a sailor had gone overboard last month and was rescued, though the circumstances were unclear.

Hegseth rejected the reports as misrepresented, while the Navy said it was monitoring psychological readiness. The episode highlights broader questions about long carrier deployments, wartime strain and the limits of naval readiness.