Two sailors from the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln were returned to their ship after a drunken altercation in the Thai resort town of Pattaya, local police confirmed on Friday. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday near the city's famous Walking Street nightlife district, a hub for tourists and entertainment.
Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo, the Pattaya city police chief, described the episode as a "small scuffle" that drew a response from local residents concerned it might escalate. "The sailors were drunk and they were fighting, making loud noise," he told the AFP news agency. He added that the pair were not charged because they had not violated Thai law, and the US Navy subsequently sent them back to the carrier.
The Lincoln's port call, which began on 2 September at Laem Chabang, has attracted international media attention, largely due to reports of deteriorating living conditions on board after more than 280 days at sea. The ship's extended deployment has raised questions about crew morale and welfare, with US Democratic lawmakers calling for an investigation into reported food shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health issues, including attempted suicides.
President Donald Trump has dismissed these concerns, but the controversy has added to criticism of his administration's military posture, particularly the ongoing war with Iran. The Lincoln has since been relieved in the Middle East by the USS George Washington, though the carrier remains in the region for now.
Pattaya's mixed reaction to the sailors' visit
The arrival of the Lincoln has also put Pattaya in the spotlight. Known for its vibrant nightlife and, less officially, for sex tourism, the city has seen authorities launch a crackdown on sex workers ahead of the ship's visit—a move they deny was linked to the sailors' arrival. Local businesses had hoped for a financial boost during the low season, but so far the impact has been muted.
Nattakamol Chartmontri, a 48-year-old masseuse who has worked in Pattaya for several years, told AFP that the sailors have been "young, well-behaved and rule-abiding" compared to previous military port calls. "People on social media are so hyped about (the sailors), but actually, they have not made a significant difference to Pattaya businesses," she said.
The police chief confirmed that apart from the minor scuffle, there have been no other notable incidents since the Lincoln docked. The carrier's presence has nonetheless drawn comparisons to other recent events, such as a football brawl that led to a FIFA ban, though the scale and context are vastly different.
For Pattaya, the visit is a reminder of its reliance on tourism and the delicate balance between welcoming foreign visitors and maintaining public order. The city's reputation as a party destination has long attracted sailors on shore leave, but the current deployment's length and the crew's reported strain have added a layer of complexity to the usual port-call festivities.
As the Lincoln prepares to depart, the focus shifts back to the broader questions about the sustainability of such extended deployments and the welfare of the thousands of sailors on board. The incident in Pattaya, while minor in itself, serves as a small but telling example of the pressures that can surface after months at sea.
