A man is presumed dead after falling overboard from the Disney Destiny cruise ship during a voyage in the Caribbean Sea on November 22, 2024, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The incident occurred approximately 240 nautical miles southeast of Grand Turk Island.
The 24-year-old man, whose identity has not been officially released, was reported missing early Friday morning after failing to return to his stateroom. A search operation involving the Coast Guard, Disney Cruise line personnel, and aerial assets was launched immediately but was suspended after a 21-hour effort covering over 6,800 square nautical miles. The Coast guard stated the decision to suspend the search was “extremely difficult” and made after exhausting all reasonable search options.The Disney Destiny, which embarked on a four-night cruise from port Canaveral, Florida, on November 21, 2024, was carrying approximately 4,000 passengers at the time of the incident. Disney Cruise Line is cooperating fully with the Coast Guard examination. This incident raises renewed concerns about safety protocols on large cruise ships and the challenges of conducting search and rescue operations in vast ocean environments. The ship returned to Port Canaveral on November 23, 2024, and passengers were offered counseling services. The Coast Guard is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fall.
