A 77-year-old woman is missing after reportedly falling overboard from a Holland America cruise ship on New Year’s Day.
According to reports from the Miami Herald and CBS News, the woman—whose identity has not been released—went overboard from the Nieuw Statendam on Thursday, Jan. 1.
The ship departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, Dec. 27, and was scheduled to return on Saturday, Jan. 3, the Orlando Sentinel reported. At the time of the incident, the vessel was approximately 40 miles off the coast of Sabana, Cuba, during an eastern Caribbean cruise.
Holland America confirmed the incident in a statement shared with CBS News and the Orlando Sentinel, saying the ship’s captain and crew immediately “initiated search and rescue procedures” and began working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard deployed the Cutter William Trump along with an MH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater to assist in the search, according to the Herald.
Hours later, the Coast Guard announced on social media that search efforts had been suspended “pending the development of new information.” Officials said crews searched for approximately eight hours, covering an area of about 690 square miles, but did not provide further details.
As a result of the incident, Holland America canceled the ship’s scheduled port stop in Key West on Friday, Jan. 2, according to reports.
“Our family assistance team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts are with the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time,” the cruise line said in a statement.
Neither Holland America nor the Coast Guard has released information regarding how or why the woman went overboard.
