News>Rescue Airmen relieve U.S. Coast Guard in search for overboard cruise ship passenger
Story at a Glance
• Rescue Reservists from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here took over the search for a reported overboard cruise ship passenger at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. • Rescue Wing Airmen launched an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and an HC-130P/N King aircraft to relieve the U.S. Coast Guard crews.
by 2nd Lt. Leslie Forshaw
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
8/29/2012 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Rescue Reservists from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here temporarily took over search efforts Tuesday for a missing cruise ship passenger 25 miles off the coast of Ponce Inlet, Fla.
According to U.S. Coast Guard reports, a 31-year-old man was seen jumping from the cruise ship Carnival Fascination at 2:09 a.m. Tuesday. The Coast Guard searched for the missing man until they reached mandatory crew rest at the 12-hour point and handed off the mission to the Reserve unit.
Rescue Wing Airmen launched an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter at approximately 3:15 p.m. Tuesday and an HC-130P/N King aircraft at approximately 7:30 p.m. to relieve the U.S. Coast Guard crews and remained on the scene until the Coast Guard returned from crew rest on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Coast Guard was still involved in the search. The Air Force Reserve unit had not received further calls for assistance.
