US Navy Sailor Bound For Hormuz Minesweeping Mission Pulled After Monkey Attack: Report

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 17:20 IST

The sailor, an electronics technician on the USS Chief, was on a stopover in Phuket when he came into contact with the animal.

In a bizarre incident, a US Navy sailor en route to the Strait of Hormuz for a minesweeping mission was pulled back after being reportedly scratched by a monkey while ashore in Thailand, according to a report by Axios.

The sailor, an electronics technician on the USS Chief, was on a stopover in Phuket when he came into contact with the animal. He was later evacuated to the ship’s forward base in Sasebo, Japan, for treatment. Officials told Axios that the sailor is in stable condition and the incident did not disrupt the vessel’s mission.

The episode, described by one military official as an “unknown unknown", has drawn attention within naval circles, where minesweeping duties are already “considered slow, high-risk and unpredictable".

“Weird stuff happens," the official said, noting such disruptions are difficult to anticipate in operational planning.

The type of monkey involved has not been confirmed, though long-tailed macaques are common in Thailand and are known to behave aggressively.

News world US Navy Sailor Bound For Hormuz Minesweeping Mission Pulled After Monkey Attack: Report

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