A French naval officer out for a routine morning jog inadvertently exposed the real-time location of France’s flagship aircraft carrier.
The sailor, identified only as “Arthur,” used the popular fitness app Strava to log a 7-kilometer run while circling the deck of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, Le Monde reported in French. Because his account was public, the uploaded data exposed the vessel’s exact position in the eastern Mediterranean, northwest of Cyprus and within an area of ongoing regional tensions.
Arthur’s public Strava account allowed anyone to track the movements of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort ships. On Feb. 14, his jogging activity placed him off the Cotentin Peninsula, 40 km from Cherbourg. Later trips show him in Copenhagen on Feb. 26–27 and northwest of Cyprus on March 13.
Satellite images confirm the carrier’s location shortly after his runs, with his geolocated route overlaid on the photos. Loops in the water suggest he was running aboard the moving ship or an escort vessel.
Investigators from Le Monde matched the geolocation data with satellite imagery taken shortly after the run, confirming the ship’s presence within a narrow radius. The jogging route’s looping patterns over open water revealed the vessel’s near real-time movement.
The incident occurred as France deployed a carrier strike group amid conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. Precise positioning is closely guarded, especially after recent attacks on French assets that left one soldier dead and several wounded.
The French naval task force, including the aircraft carrier, at least three frigates, and a supply ship, is publicly known. On March 3, French President Emmanuel Macron announced he had ordered its deployment, days after the outbreak of conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. The carrier was in the Baltic Sea for NATO exercises and was scheduled to stay until May.
French military leadership acknowledged the breach and moved quickly to contain the fallout, Le Monde reported. The Armed Forces General Staff said the post violated operational protocols and emphasized that strict online conduct is required for deployed personnel. Commanders said disciplinary or corrective measures would follow.
This is not an isolated case. Le Monde identified several other sailors with public Strava profiles, including at least one who posted photos revealing the ship’s location. Other profiles shared images of the deck, crew members, and onboard sports equipment.
These leaks are similar to earlier Le Monde investigations in fall 2024, which exposed Strava security flaws among the bodyguards of French, American, and Russian presidents. The app allowed agents to be identified and tracked, revealing some movements of world leaders. In January 2025, French Navy submariners also shared patrol information via Strava, which officials called personnel negligence.
The French government did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screen Capture/PBS)
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