The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(MIAMI) — Coast Guard crews suspended their search at approximately 7:20 a.m. Friday for a missing Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas cruise ship crewmember 37 miles east of Hillsboro Inlet.
Watch standers at Coast Guard Sector Miami received a call, at approximately 2:40 a.m. Thursday, from the crew of Majesty of the Seas stating a 26-year-old crewmember went overboard.
“We’ve been in contact with the crewmember’s family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them,” said Cmdr. Jason Aleksak, Sector Miami chief of response. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.”
Coast Guard rescue crews were composed of the Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark (WPC 1106), home-ported in Miami, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crews from Coast Guard Air Station Miami.
Crews searched for approximately 24 hours covering 1,388 square miles.
