US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego after record deployment

By Greta Ruffino Published on 08/10/2026 - 22:32 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp After more than 10 months at sea, the Lincoln made a stop in Thailand last month on its way back from the Middle East. US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego on Thursday after supporting the US war against Iran. The aircraft carrier spent a record 265 consecutive days at sea amid reports of difficult conditions for its crew. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the carrier on Wednesday to present its crew with the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest military award given to a unit. He rejected suggestions that the ship had become "a symbol of dysfunction or a symbol of low morale or a symbol of a failed mission.” Family and friends wait to greet the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier as it returns to Naval Air Station North Island after deployment Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Coronado, AP Photo The carrier attracted national attention following reports of stress, mental health concerns and shortages of food and hygiene products during its deployment. The Navy initially downplayed the problems but later acknowledged some issues on board, including reduced meal options due to limited resupply opportunities. Additionally, the Navy told lawmakers that eight sailors had attempted suicide during the deployment. Experts said the figure was relatively low for a strike group of around 6,000 personnel over 10 months. The Lincoln left California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea and was rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began in February 2026. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Controversial US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln arrives in Thailand after months at sea New US carrier strike group arrives in Middle East to relieve long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln US military pushes back on reports of mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln Israel Iran conflict Military United States Comments