Coast Guard Suspends Search For Missing Carnival Cruise Passenger

ISLAMORADA, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search late Saturday for a missing 26-year-old man. Thomas McElhany went overboard from the Carnival cruise ship Victory Friday morning approximately 35 miles off the coast of Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

“I have been in contact with members of Mr. McElhany’s family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them,” said Cmdr. David Aldous, the search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard 7th District. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.”

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The search was suspended at 10:20 p.m. on Saturday night. Crews searched for approximately 32 hours and covered an area that spanned 2,086 square miles.

Coast Guard watchstanders received a call from the cruise ship at approximately 5 a.m. Friday stating that a passenger had reportedly gone overboard.

The ship was on its way to PortMiami, according to the Coast Guard. The Victory continued to Miami without the missing passenger after a delay.

Coast Guard rescue crews included Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopters, HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplanes, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton (WPC-1108), homeported in Key West and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cochito (WPB-87329), homeported in Miami.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano