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USS Harry S. Truman collides with Merchant ship in Mediterranean Sea; here's what we know
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Wednesday collided with M/V Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea close to Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Wednesday collided with M/V Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea close to Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the US Navy, the incident took place around 11:45 pm.
The crew did not report any casualties, and the carrier did not flood, according to a statement from US 6th Fleet spokeswoman Cmdr. Tim Gorman.
There is no impact on Truman's propulsion plants and the crash is being investigated.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Truman, which carries a crew of 5,000, was sent to the Mediterranean last October to safeguard US interests there following Iran's missile assault on Israel.
The carrier participated in a string of missile strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are supported by Iran and have been obstructing the Red Sea commerce route in support of Hamas.
Was USS Harry S. Truman returning to the Red Sea?
Commander Timothy Gorman, a Sixth Fleet spokesperson, told Business Insider that more information would be made public as the inquiry goes on.
According to reports, the aircraft carrier had taken a short break from its ongoing operations in the Middle East as it arrived at a military base in Crete.
Whether the Truman was heading back to the Red Sea at the time of the incident is still unknown.
The event reportedly took place close to the Suez Canal's entrance, which is a crucial transit route for ships that sail between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Also Read: First US Navy ships transit Taiwan strait, prompting China's strong response
A look into past collision of US Navy ships
There have been past incidents involving warships and commercial vessels, despite the rarity of collisions involving US Navy aircraft carriers, as per Business Insider.
Two different crashes involving US Navy ships in 2017 claimed the lives of several crew members.
The last significant collision involving a US aircraft carrier happened in 2004, when the USS John F. Kennedy struck and submerged a fishing boat, resulting in the commanding officer's termination.
