The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting an active search after a 77-year-old woman fell overboard from a Holland America Line cruise ship in the Caribbean.
According to officials, the passenger went into the water from the Nieuw Statendam while the vessel was sailing approximately 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, on Thursday. The incident prompted an immediate response from both the cruise ship’s crew and federal rescue teams.
The Coast Guard has dispatched the Cutter William Trump along with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to assist in locating the missing woman. The Nieuw Statendam departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last weekend and was midway through a seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary at the time of the incident.
Holland America Line confirmed that onboard personnel quickly activated emergency protocols and began searching the surrounding waters in coordination with the Coast Guard. The cruise company also stated that its family support team is in contact with the passenger’s loved ones.
As search efforts continue, the ship canceled a planned stop in Key West, Florida, scheduled for Friday. No additional details about the woman’s condition or the circumstances leading to the incident have been released.
