Thai PBS Verify found the piece of misinformation on: Instagram
A reel from an Instagram account ‘worldacedemicpodcast,’ was published on March 29, 2026.
published on March 29, 2026.
Thai PBS Verify found an Instagram reel published by user ‘worldacademicpodcast’ on March 29, 2026. The video shows the damaged U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by the following descriptions:
“BREAKING: The USS Gerald R. Ford could be out of service for up to 2 years after reportedly being struck by Iran.
Major blow: One of the most advanced U.S. carriers is rendered inoperative, raising alarms about its vulnerability.
Strategic impact: If confirmed, the damage represents an unprecedented hit to U.S. naval power.
Narrative under scrutiny: While U.S. officials downplay the incident, signs suggest it was not a simple internal accident.
“Key implications:
- temporary loss of a critical naval asset
- shift in maritime balance and operational readiness
- heightened perception of vulnerability in U.S. naval operations
- escalation potential in the region due to weakened U.S. sea power
“From a strategic perspective, sidelining a carrier like the Gerald R. Ford could alter naval equilibrium, forcing recalibration of U.S. operations in critical theaters.”
The USS Gerald R. Ford was not attacked
Thai PBS Verify examined the details of the images used in the reel with Hive Moderation. The analysis found that the image was more than 99.9% likely to be AI-generated, concluding that it was created using Gemini 3 AI.
Verification results from Hive Moderation show that the image was 99.9% AI-generated.
In addition, irregularities were found in the images. The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford appeared to have been hit, leaving a hole in the middle of the vessel. However, upon closer inspection, the ship in the image was marked with the number “25,” while the real USS Gerald R. Ford should bear the faint number “78” on the bow.
A comparison between the real USS Gerald R. Ford (left) and the fake image (right).
Meanwhile, other details in another image — such as the depiction of navy personnel inspecting damage on the aircraft carrier’s deck — were also analyzed. Hive Moderation’s results showed that this image was 98.9% likely to have been AI-generated.
Additional verification by Hive Moderation found the image was 98.9% AI-generated.
Further irregularities were also detected in the image. Normally, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) should have a relatively small, tall command tower. However, in the image, the command tower appeared as a long strip, resembling earlier Nimitz-Class carriers rather than the Gerald R. Ford-Class. In addition, the sides of the command tower bore no numbers, which contradicts U.S. Navy standards that require numbers to be displayed on both port and starboard sides, as well as on the sides of the command tower itself.
A comparison between the real command tower of the USS Gerald R. Ford (left) and the fake image (right).
What is the situation of the U.S. aircraft carrier “USS Gerald R. Ford”?
Thai PBS Verify further conducted a keyword search for “USS Gerald R. Ford Laundry Fire,” and found current reports about the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) from USNI News dated March 28, 2026. The key points could be summarized as follows:
The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) was, at the moment, in Split, Croatia, after stopping earlier in the week at Souda Bay, Greece. The carrier departed the Red Sea last week en route to Crete, following a laundry room fire in mid-March 2026 that damaged several crew quarters.
While docked at Souda Bay, personnel from the regional maintenance center, structural engineers, naval architects, and specialized experts assessed the repairs. Military law enforcement and federal civilian authorities continued to investigate the laundry room fire.
Officials added that “personnel and industry partners have supported the restoration of the affected crew quarters.”
A screenshot of the USNI News report, stating that the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is currently in Split, Croatia, after sustaining damage from a laundry room fire.
In addition, according to the USNI News Fleet & Marine Tracker report dated March 23, 2026, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) arrived in the operational area on March 27, 2026, as reported by CENTCOM. It was accompanied by the USS New Orleans (LPD-18) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, under orders from the U.S. Department of Defense.
What is the truth?
Following the claims on Instagram that the U.S.’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), was heavily damaged by an Iranian attack, Thai PBS Verify has found that it is “false information.” The fact is: the USS Gerald R. Ford was docked in Split, Croatia, for repair assessments following a laundry room fire in mid-March 2026. The incident caused only partial damage to certain crew quarters. The ship was not attacked by foreign forces, nor did it sustain the severe damage claimed in the posts.
