The U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) at sea (Photo by Francesco Militello Mirto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
For the second time this year, a fire broke out on one of the United States Navy’s nuclear-power supercarriers. Three sailors were reportedly injured on Tuesday as a result of a small fire aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). The sailors were treated onboard the warship and have since returned to full duty, the U.S. Navy confirmed.
The service has not indicated where the fire broke out, but it occurred during CVN-69’s “maintenance availability,” the scheduled period where a warship pauses operations for repairs or upgrades, at Norfolk Naval Station, Va.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has been in port at the U.S. Navy’s shipyard for 16 months, undergoing post-deployment maintenance.
“On April 14, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower experienced a small fire that was immediately contained and extinguished by ship’s force and Norfolk Navy Shipyard personnel, who responded swiftly as trained. Three Sailors were treated by ship’s medical and returned to full duty,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement to the media, as reported by USNI News.
It was just a month ago that a more serious fire broke out on the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), which took nearly 30 hours to contain and then impacted carrier operations for two days. The vessel has since undergone repairs in Split, Croatia, and as of this week was back at sea in the eastern Mediterranean.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the second Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, arrived at the Virginia shipyard on January 8, 2025, for a Planned Incremental Availability.
“The maintenance phase ensures the carrier’s capabilities meet future operational demands,” the U.S. Navy announced at the time.
The PIA followed the supercarrier’s most recent deployment, which began in October 2023 and ended in July 2024. During that time, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower executed sustained operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Grecia Estilladosantos cleans debris on the flight deck aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Mar. 18, 2026.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jamison Sutton)
According to the U.S. Navy, the 2025 PIA has included “comprehensive work” on the CVN-69’s propulsion systems, crew habitability, combat systems, and aviation support capabilities. Beyond routine maintenance, upgrades were made to critical systems to ensure the carrier remains mission-ready while also enhancing operational effectiveness.
It is unclear if the fire will delay the maintenance progress. The U.S. Navy hasn’t indicated when CVN-69 will next deploy.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower – “Ike” to her crew – is the second of 10 Nimitz-class supercarriers now in service with the U.S. Navy. Named to honor the 34th president of the United States and the former General of the Army, the warship has been in service for more than four decades.
Congress authorized the construction of CVN-69 in 1970, and she was commissioned seven years later. Following more than a year of fleet training, Ike deployed to the Mediterranean for the first time. The warship underwent a major overhaul in the mid-1980s, during which she was outfitted with newer technology, and returned to service in 1987.
Over her lengthy service history, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has been deployed to a litany of combat operations in the Middle East, beginning with Operation Eagle Claw during the 1980 Iran hostage crisis.
One of the aircraft carrier’s most notable deployments took place during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. CVN-69 made history at the time, becoming just the second nuclear-powered carrier ever to transit the Suez Canal.
During her 2023-2024 deployment, the U.S. Navy’s second oldest in service carrier operated in the Red Sea, where she protected commercial shipping that came under fire from the Iranian-backed Houthis in response to the war in Gaza.
There has been speculation that USS Dwight D. Eisenhower could be deployed back to the Middle East if Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing campaign against Iran, continues. The Norfolk-based USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is now en route to the region.
As of this week, the USS Gerald R. Ford, which has also been supporting combat operations against the Islamic Republic, set a record for the longest post-Vietnam War-era deployment. As of Thursday, CVN-78 has been at sea for 296 days, surpassing the 294 days set by USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) during her 2019-2020 deployment.
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