Commanding officer of nuclear-powered US Navy aircraft carrier relieved of duty after crash with Turkish merchant ship.
The U.S. Navy has relieved Captain Dave Snowden of his command of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman following a collision with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, on February 12, 2025.
Rear Admiral Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, cited a “loss of confidence in [Snowden’s] ability to command” as the reason for this decision.
The collision occurred late at night in a heavily trafficked area near the Suez Canal. The Truman sustained damage to its starboard side, affecting storage rooms, maintenance spaces, and the fantail; however, there were no injuries or flooding reported, and the ship’s propulsion system remained intact.
Following the incident, the Truman docked at Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, for repairs. Despite the damage, the carrier remains fully mission-capable and has continued flight operations.
Captain Christopher Hill, previously commanding officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, has been appointed as the interim commanding officer of the Truman. The Navy has stated that there is no impact on the Truman’s mission or schedule due to this change in command.