Objective To verify the disinfection effect of low-temperature plasma on respiratory viruses in simulated warship airtight cabins. Methods Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) particles were harvested from the sputum of a patient and coated on several smooth plastic pieces to simulate surface contamination. Three separate isolation wards (each about 20 m²) were used to simulate warship airtight cabins. Plastic pieces (3 detection time points, 9 pieces for each group) were placed in the wards for the 3 groups, namely, experimental group (treated with low-temperature plasma), positive control group (treated with chlorine-containing disinfectants), and blank control group. Samples were taken at 3 time points and detected by SARS-CoV-2 antigen test and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results The SARS-CoV-2 antigens on the surface of all contaminated pieces were positive before disinfection. At 1, 30 and 60 min after disinfection, the antigens of 3 samples turned negative in the experimental group, 0, 2 and 3 samples turned negative in the positive control group, and 0, 0 and 1 sample turned negative in the blank control group. The effects of different treatment methods on the Ct values of open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid protein (N) genes were significant (both P＜0.01), and the Ct values of ORF1ab and N genes in the experimental group and positive control group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (all P＜0.05). The Ct value was high and stable in the experimental group, and the variation was smaller than the other 2 groups. Conclusion Low-temperature plasma can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2, and its thoroughness and uniformity are prior to chlorine-containing disinfectants. It is suitable for disinfection of the air and surface of the ship cabin.