NAVY TRAGEDY
Ten sailors were missing and five injured early Monday when a US Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship near Singapore — the second such crash in as many months.
The USS John S. McCain collided with the Liberian-registered oil tanker Alnic MC in the Strait of Malacca at about 5:24 a.m. local time while it was on its way to a routine port visit in Singapore, according to a statement from the Navy.
The guided-missile destroyer sustained damage to its rear-left side, officials said.
Five people were hurt and crews were searching for 10 others. Four of the injured were taken by helicopter to a hospital in Singapore. The fifth required no treatment.
While returning to the White House on Sunday night, President Trump was asked about the naval mishap and responded, “That’s too bad.”
About two hours later, he tweeted that “thoughts & prayers” are with the sailors.
The 505-foot-long destroyer is named for Arizona Sen. John McCain’s father and grandfather, who were both Navy admirals. McCain offered his condolences.
“Cindy & I are keeping America’s sailors aboard the USS John S McCain in our prayers tonight - appreciate the work of search & rescue crews,” he tweeted.
A search-and-rescue mission was under way involving Singaporean ships, helicopters and tug boats, as well as US Navy aircraft.
The USS McCain entered service in 1994 and is staffed by a crew of 23 officers, 24 chief petty officers and 291 enlisted sailors.
The collision is the second such incident in two months. Seven sailors were killed when the ACX Crystal, a cargo ship, rammed the USS Fitzgerald off the coast of Japan on June 17. The sailors, ages 19 to 37, drowned after water rushed into their sleeping compartments, marking the greatest loss of life on a Navy ship sincece the USS Cole was bombed inn Yemen in 2000, killing 17.
A scathing report issued just days ago by the Navy found that the Fitzgerald’s crew made “a slew” of mistakes in the minutes leading up to the incident.
About a dozen sailors — including the ship’s commanding officer and other senior leaders — are expected to face punishment for the crash because the Navy “lost trust and confidence in their ability to lead,” naval officials said Thursday.
Both the USS McCain and USS Fitzgerald are Arleigh Burkeclass destroyers based at the 7th Fleet’s home port of Yokosuka, Japan.