The work of Newport News shipbuilders is vital for the defense of the United States and for the safety of the sailors and Marines who serve.

That point was driven home last week when an F-35C Lightning II aircraft had a “landing mishap” on deck of NNS-built USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), which was conducting routine flight operations in the South China Sea. A senior Navy official brought up the
Jan. 24 incident during a routine progress meeting with NNS officials about the ongoing refueling and complex overhaul of USS George Washington (CVN 73).

CVN 73 Program Director Gary Graham said the Navy official credited the quality work of NNS shipbuilders who built and overhauled CVN 70. The ship was able to quickly recover and continue its mission following the incident, which injured seven sailors.

“Because of how the shipbuilders build these ships – the quality and redundancy that we build into the systems – they were able to respond, tend to the injured and get back to launching and recovering aircraft within hours to ultimately do what needs to be done in the South China Sea,” Graham said. “It really shows the importance of what we do every day.”

The cause of the mishap is under investigation. Vinson, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and their carrier strike groups began dual carrier operations in the South China Sea on Jan. 23.