The Central Command of the United States (CENTCOM) announced this Thursday the sending of the American aircraft carrier 'USS George Washington' to the Arabian Sea, after the mental health crisis recorded on board the 'USS Abraham Lincoln', which has already accumulated nine months of mission at sea and more than 250 consecutive days without touching port.
"American sailors work on the flight deck of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) on August 20, while the aircraft carrier crosses the Arabian Sea," the Army indicated in a message disseminated on its social networks.
According to CENTCOM, the aircraft carrier and the rest of the ships escorting it are "operating in the Middle East" within the deployment planned by military authorities after their arrival at the "theater of operations" the day before.
Subsequently, a U.S. official confirmed that the aircraft carrier 'USS Abraham Lincoln', with an approximate crew of 5,000 sailors, has already begun its journey back to San Diego, as reported by the newspaper 'The New York Times'.
The change of flagship in the area occurs after family members of the sailors aboard the 'USS Abraham Lincoln' expressed their concern about the worsening mental health of the crew, attributed to the harsh living conditions at sea, which have even led some personnel to attempt to throw themselves overboard.
In a letter sent to the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and the acting Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, the Democratic senator from Connecticut Richard Blumenthal detailed various problems detected on the aircraft carrier, including a lack of essential supplies, delays in the arrival of mail, or leaks in the pipes.
The American president, Donald Trump, reprimanded a correspondent from CNN on Monday, insisting that she "shut up" and labeling her report on the prolonged deployment of the aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz as "false information."
"I have been on ships that have been at sea for much longer. And I know people on the Lincoln; they say it is impeccably maintained and very well cared for," the Republican president assured, also emphasizing that in other years he has remained in the region "for much longer."