A passenger on a Carnival cruise ship has been reported overboard, prompting the vessel to change course and head towards California.
According to the cruise line, the incident occurred on Wednesday morning while the ship was en route from Long Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico. The passenger was immediately reported missing and a search and rescue operation was launched.
The U.S. Coast Guard was notified and joined the search, along with the Mexican Navy and other vessels in the area. The Carnival Imagination ship also conducted its own search efforts.
The identity of the missing passenger has not been released, but it is believed that they intentionally went overboard. The ship’s captain made an announcement to passengers about the situation and asked for their cooperation in the search efforts.
The Carnival Imagination is now heading towards San Diego, California, where it is expected to arrive on Thursday morning. The cruise line has stated that the passenger’s family has been notified and is being provided with support.
This is not the first time a passenger has gone overboard on a Carnival cruise ship. In 2018, a 50-year-old woman fell from the Carnival Triumph and was rescued after 10 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2017, a 33-year-old man went overboard from the Carnival Liberty and was never found.
Cruise lines have implemented safety measures to prevent passengers from going overboard, including surveillance cameras and railings that are at least 42 inches high. However, these incidents still occur and serve as a reminder for passengers to be cautious while on board.
The investigation into this latest incident is ongoing and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
