US Aircraft Carrier Captain 'Relieved of Duty' After COVID-19 Diagnosis Revealed

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The captain of a U.S. aircraft carrier, who requested to disembark crew members to protect them from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been relieved of his command. The U.S. Navy explained that this action was taken because he leaked the disembarkation request to the media, causing anxiety.

According to U.S. media on the 2nd (local time), the U.S. Navy has relieved Captain Brett Crozier of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt from his command.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Captain Crozier informed about the spread of COVID-19 within the aircraft carrier and demanded a response from the Navy. In a letter sent to Navy headquarters, Crozier stated, "We are not currently at war, so there is no need for crew members to die," adding, "If we do not take action immediately, we may fail to protect the soldiers, who are our most trusted assets."

Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said, "Because of Captain Crozier's actions, the crew of the Roosevelt, their families, and many others likely believed that protective measures had been taken," and added, "He unnecessarily raised alarm bells." Modly also stated, "(Crozier's letter) gives the impression that the Navy has not done what it should have, which is not true," and "This decision was made by myself, and I do not expect it to be welcomed."

The letter became a major issue after being reported by local media and extensively covered by U.S. media. When the Roosevelt passed through Da Nang, Vietnam, there were two confirmed COVID-19 cases on board, which later increased to about 100 confirmed cases.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that this removal decision has been received as a shock even within the U.S. Navy. Some officials expect that this issue may be addressed in Congress.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.