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Rescue Airmen assist Coast Guard in search for overboard cruise ship passenger

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Leslie Forshaw
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
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.