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After spending an uninterrupted 286 days at sea, including deployment in the Iran conflict, the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived at a port in Thailand. However, two US sailors have been returned to the ship after being accused of getting involved in a drunken brawl during shore leave upon their arrival in Thailand.
The altercation between the two sailors occurred on Thursday morning in front of a pub near Walking Street in Pattaya, Thailand’s popular tourist city. When they started shouting loudly and fighting, local residents informed the police. Police later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.
Colonel Anek Srathongyu, Chief of Pattaya City Police, told AFP that both sailors were intoxicated and were fighting with each other. Locals called the police out of concern that the conflict might escalate.
Police stated that the two sailors were subsequently taken to the US-Thailand Joint Operations Center, located at the Hard Rock Hotel in Pattaya. From there, they were sent back to the USS Abraham Lincoln. No charges or cases were filed against them as there was no accusation of violating any Thai laws.
The two unidentified sailors will have to remain on board the aircraft carrier for the remainder of its five-day stay in Thailand.
286 Days Later, At Port
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at Laem Chabang port in Thailand on Wednesday. This visit, with approximately 5,000 sailors and marines, is seen as an opportunity for rest and recreation after a prolonged deployment at sea.
Security and police activity have been heightened in Pattaya, a popular holiday destination for foreign tourists, due to the arrival of US Navy personnel. However, apart from the incident involving the two brawling sailors, no major untoward incidents have been reported since the carrier’s arrival.
The Chief of Pattaya Police stated that no other significant incidents have occurred since then.
Concerns Over the Carrier’s Long Deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln had already garnered attention due to its continuous 286-day deployment at sea. During this extended deployment, there were reports of food shortages, plumbing system failures, and mental health issues among the sailors. News of several sailors attempting suicide was also published.
Following these allegations, US lawmakers demanded an investigation into the carrier’s situation. However, then-US President Donald Trump dismissed these concerns. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also praised the carrier’s sailors.
After a prolonged deployment in the Iran conflict, the USS Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Thailand is seen as an opportunity for the sailors to rest. Approximately 5,000 members of the carrier’s crew have been given the chance to spend a few days on shore leave in Pattaya.