The £3 billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth recently made its maiden voyage. On arrival in the US, six Royal Navy sailors were arrested for being drunk and disorderly in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Two sailors were reportedly tasered by police during the incident and three resisted arrest.

It was outside Lynch’s Irish pub that the trouble began, leading to the sailors’ arrest on alcohol-related charges, including resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication.

‘Big Lizzie’ arrives in the US

The aircraft carrier departed from Portsmouth Naval Base on 18 August, docking in Mayport, Florida shortly under three weeks later.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth is a 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier, which has been dubbed with the nickname “Big Lizzie.” The Navy is planning to conduct trials with their US F-35B fighter jets during the trip, including as many as 500 landings.

One of three British pilots will have the honour of landing the training jets on the aircraft carrier during the deployment to the US.

This will include an RAF squadron leader and Royal Navy commander, as well as a civilian test pilot.

The Business Insider said the first voyage of the aircraft carrier would mark Britain’s first fighter jet landing on an aircraft carrier in eight years.

What do we do with 6 drunken sailors?

The Evening Standard quotes a Navy spokesman as saying they could confirm that several naval personnel were “assisting US police” with their enquiries, adding that it was not appropriate to make further comment right now.

The spokesman said the Naval Service always places importance on personnel keeping to the highest possible standards of behavior at all times.

Sergeant Larry Smith said in a statement that six sailors had been taken into custody in the bar district of Jacksonville Beach, adding that all offences related to alcohol.

This included being disorderly under the influence of alcohol and also resisting arrest.

Facing Russian threats

Commodore Andrew Betton is the commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group. Before the aircraft carrier departed for the US, he said the new ship would receive full protection against Russian threats while underway.

According to Betton, there are more Russian submarines active in the North Atlantic than the period following the Cold War.

He said they take this very seriously, adding that the aircraft carrier would be fully protected during its voyage across the Atlantic.

Betton had said the Royal Navy seeks to "operate professionally" while operating in international waters. He added the navy is not “seeking confrontation,” they are merely conducting trials.
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