The Carnival Panorama cruise ship was forced to turn around after a passenger reportedly jumped overboard, triggering an urgent search for the man. The vessel was bound for Southern California from Mexico when the incident occurred on Saturday, September 19.
Passenger jumped from ship en route to Long Beach
“Carnival Cruise Line confirmed Saturday that a male guest aboard Carnival Panorama jumped overboard while the ship was sailing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Long Beach, California,” the cruise said in a statement to The California Post.
“Carnival is providing support to the family who was traveling with the guest, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones,” the spokesperson added.
The passenger reportedly was paged at around 10.30am and surveillance footage later showed that the man had gone overboard.
Search and investigation procedures initiated
“When notified of a missing guest, the ship’s team initiated search and investigation procedures, including reviewing CCTV footage and notifying both the US and Mexico Coast Guards,” the spokesperson added.
A video shared on Facebook by another passenger on board the ship showed an announcement to other passengers after the incident unfolded. In the video, a member of staff appears to say: “We have yet to locate the missing guest. Our fleet operation in Miami and appropriate authorities have been notified.
“In the meantime, we continue for the family and friends. Our search efforts continue and we will keep you informed. Thank you again for the cooperation.”
Passengers create remembrance wall
In a video shared by one of the passengers, Misty Hernandez, she says: “Last night, passengers on this ship came together in a quiet but powerful way.
“A small remembrance wall was created for the passenger who went overboard, giving people a place to leave prayers, messages, and words of love for him and for the family and friends who are carrying an unimaginable loss,” she added.
“Most of us never knew him. We may never know his story. But for a few days, we were all on the same ship, sharing the same moments, and now we share the heaviness of knowing that someone who boarded this ship will not be going home,” she wrote.
The Carnival Panorama was continuing its journey to Long Beach after the search effort, with the circumstances surrounding the man’s disappearance still under investigation.
