Hundreds of sailors were allowed to leave the US aircraft carrier after a series of suicides

Since 2021, seven sailors on the USS George Washington have died, four of them likely to commit suicide. The first four deaths were recorded in 2021, the remaining three occurred within a week of last month.

“Seven sailors died of the following reasons: 2 temperature-related deaths, 1 unspecified, 1 confirmed suicide, and 3 apparently suicides under investigation” – ABC News May 2 quoted an unnamed official of the Naval Air Force Atlantic as saying.

In the wake of the above incidents, along with a series of discussions from sailors about living and working conditions on the USS George Washington, the US Navy will begin this week to provide temporary accommodation for sailors living on the ship.

Most of the 2,700-member crew of the USS George Washington have left the ship, and there are currently about 400 sailors living on board.

A sailor works aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. Photo: US Navy

From May 2, 260 of these sailors will be facilitated to move into temporary housing. After that, each week an additional 50 sailors will be able to choose this option.

The US Navy is also taking action to support the mental health of the USS George Washington crew, including promoting referrals for screenings and adding a clinical psychologist. The force has also announced that it will review the living and working conditions on the carriers being repaired.

The USS George Washington is undergoing maintenance at the Newport News Shipyard in what the US Navy describes as a “year-long, once-in-a-lifetime event of an aircraft carrier’s 50-year operating life”.

The overhaul, which includes refueling the ship’s two nuclear reactors, as well as substantial repairs, upgrades and modernization, is expected to be completed this winter.

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington. Photo: US Navy