Pattaya port call sees minor drama as two US sailors are sent back to carrier

Bangkok, September 4 - Two sailors from the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln were returned to the ship following a minor altercation in Pattaya, Thailand, local police reported today. The incident occurred early Thursday near the city's bustling nightlife district, Walking Street. Thai police were alerted to a "small scuffle" involving the sailors, who had been drinking and fighting, generating loud noise.

Police chief Colonel Anek Srathongyoo described the incident as "trivial" and noted that local residents had called the police to prevent it from escalating. Neither sailor was charged as they did not violate any Thai laws, according to Col. Anek. The US Navy promptly returned the pair to the carrier. The USS Abraham Lincoln's arrival has garnered global media attention due to reports of deteriorating living conditions on board after a prolonged 280-day deployment at sea.

The port call has also brought increased attention to Pattaya, a popular tourist resort known for its nightlife and sex tourism. Thai authorities had recently intensified efforts to crack down on sex workers in anticipation of the ship's visit, though they denied any direct link to the sailors' arrival. Since the Lincoln docked, there have been no other significant incidents, and one local masseuse reported that the situation had been calmer than previous military port calls.

Many of the sailors appeared "young, well-behaved, and rule-abiding," according to Nattakamol Chartmontri, a masseuse who has worked in Pattaya for several years. While Pattaya businesses had anticipated a financial boost from the visit, which took place during the off-season, Chartmontri noted that the sailors had so far remained quiet and had not significantly impacted the local economy.

Social media hype about the sailors' presence notwithstanding, Pattaya businesses remained relatively undisturbed by their visit.