USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier set to arrive at Israeli coast today

By Emanuel Fabian

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27 February 2026, 9:44 am

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, dispatched to the region amid tensions with Iran, departs Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete on February 26, 2026. (Costas METAXAKIS / AFP)

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is set to arrive near Israel’s northern coast today.

US President Donald Trump ordered the carrier strike group to the Middle East this month as part of a massive military buildup while he weighs whether to take military action against Iran.

The carrier departed from the Greek island of Crete yesterday following a supply stop at a US naval base. It is now en route to the Haifa area.

The USS Gerald R. Ford arrives in Israel https://t.co/B3AC4kYZba

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 27, 2026

Meanwhile, the US Navy denies recent media reports of a plumbing crisis aboard the carrier.

“In recent weeks, media reports have raised concerns regarding shipboard systems, including sanitation. Navy officials state that Gerald R. Ford’s systems are operating within expected parameters for a Ford-class aircraft carrier with more than 4,000 personnel embarked. During this deployment, Gerald R. Ford’s vacuum collection, holding, and transfer (VCHT) system has processed more than six million toilet flushes. Ship leadership reports that clog incidents are addressed promptly by trained damage control and engineering personnel, with minimal downtime,” the US Navy says in a statement.

“On a ship this size, with this many sailors, clogs will occur,” says Cpt. David Skarosi, the carrier’s commanding officer. “What matters is how quickly they are resolved. Our maintenance teams respond immediately, and the system continues to function as designed with no impact to operational readiness or our ability to meet our mission. I am engaged daily with any concerns regarding the health, well-being, and morale of the crew.”