WORLD
2 min read
Two US sailors sent back to carrier after drunken brawl in Thailand's Pattaya
Thai police said the sailors were involved in a minor altercation near Pattaya's Walking Street but were not charged after officers determined they had broken no Thai laws.
Two US sailors sent back to carrier after drunken brawl in Thailand's Pattaya
American service members of the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group arrive at a hotel in Pattaya, Thailand, Wednesday, September 2 2026. / AP

Two sailors from a US aircraft carrier making a port call to Thailand were sent back to the ship after a drunken altercation, Thai police said on Friday.

Police were alerted to a "small scuffle" involving the sailors in the early hours of Thursday near Pattaya's nightlife hotspot Walking Street, city police chief Colonel Anek Srathongyoo told AFP.

"The sailors were drunk and they were fighting, making loud noise," he said.

He described the incident as "trivial" and said local residents had only called police to prevent it from escalating.

The unidentified sailors were not charged as "they did not violate any Thai law", Anek said.

The US Navy sent the pair back to the ship, he added.

RelatedTRT World - Trump confirms USS Lincoln being replaced, dismisses concerns over record 250-day deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln's arrival has drawn global media interest after reports of deteriorating living conditions on board after more than 280 days at sea.

It has also put the spotlight on Pattaya, a resort popular with foreign tourists with a reputation for its nightlife.

The police chief told AFP there had been no other notable incidents since the Lincoln docked, and one Pattaya masseuse said it had been calmer than previous military port calls.

Pattaya businesses had been hoping for a windfall from the visit, which comes during low season, but Nattakamol, 48, said it had so far stayed quiet.

"People on social media are so hyped about (the sailors), but actually, they have not made a significant difference to Pattaya businesses," she said.

RelatedTRT World - US sailor’s father detained by ICE as USS Abraham Lincoln returns from Middle East deployment

US Democratic lawmakers called last month for an investigation into conditions on the Lincoln following reports of food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health crises.

President Donald Trump dismissed the concerns, which have fuelled criticism of his dragging war on Iran, although the Lincoln was replaced in the Middle East by the USS George Washington.

SOURCE:AFP