USS Lincoln sailors attempt to jump overboard amid record deployment.

A sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln went overboard last month and was quickly rescued, a U.S. official confirmed. The official said the sailor was medically evaluated; it is not clear whether they returned to duty.

• 260+ days at sea make this the longest aircraft carrier deployment on record.
• Multiple sailors have reportedly attempted to go overboard, per Military Times reporting.
• 5,000 crew members were deployed in November 2025 with no current end date set.
• Sailor texts describe no fresh fruit or milk for three months, sometimes rotten meat.

Why it matters: Family members, sailors, and at least one lawmaker say conditions on the ship have deteriorated to a dangerous degree. The gap between those accounts and the Navy's official position is the central dispute.

• Rep. Mike Levin said sailors in their ninth month of deployment deserve rest and accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of dismissing family concerns as 'fake news' in April.
• Annabel Loma, wife of a sailor who attempted to go overboard, said her husband feared a dishonorable discharge would end his 13-year career.

How 9 sources split on this story

Where they split: The Navy says it has not identified an increase in suicidal ideation or attempts; sailors, their families, and Military Times reporting describe multiple overboard attempts and severe psychological strain.

What’s next: The USS George Washington is heading to the Middle East after departing Vietnam this week.

• Acting Secretary Cao told families the USS Theodore Roosevelt is being prepared to relieve the Lincoln.
• Whether the confirmed overboard incident was a suicide attempt or an accident has not been established.
• No timeline has been given for when a relief carrier will actually arrive.
• Whether moving the George Washington from the Pacific will affect U.S. posture toward China or North Korea remains unaddressed.