US Navy charges sailor with starting fire that destroyed USS Bonhomme Richard warship
- Fire on USS Bonhomme Richard in 2020 injured more than 60 people and destroyed vessel
- Sailor charged with aggravated arson and the wilful hazarding of a vessel
The US Navy charged a sailor with starting a fire last year that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard docked off San Diego, marking the maritime branch’s worst warship blaze outside of combat in recent memory.
The amphibious assault ship burned for more than four days. Left with extensive structural, electrical and mechanical damage, the ship was later scrapped. Estimates to replace it ran up to US$4 billion.
The sailor was a member of the crew at the time, Commander Sean Robertson, a US 3rd Fleet spokesperson, said in a statement. The sailor was charged with aggravated arson and the wilful hazarding of a vessel, Robertson said. No name was released.
“The sailor was a member of Bonhomme Richard’s crew at the time and is accused of starting the fire,” Robertson said.
No other details were provided, and it was unclear what evidence was found or what the motive was.
The amphibious assault ships are among the few in the US fleet that can act as a mini aircraft carrier.
The Bonhomme Richard had been nearing the end of a two-year upgrade estimated to cost US$250 million when the fire broke out on July 12, 2020.
