American Cruise Passenger Missing After Going Overboard on Luxury Ship

A Windstar Cruises passenger is missing after going overboard the Star Breeze earlier this week, the cruise line confirms to PEOPLE.
The American passenger was discovered missing on the morning of Monday, Jan. 19, while the ship was sailing in the South Pacific. Windstar Cruises, a luxury small ship cruise line, tells PEOPLE that “crew immediately conducted a full shipwide search” following the incident.
“Windstar Cruises is deeply saddened to report that a guest aboard Star Breeze was confirmed missing earlier today in the South Pacific,” the cruise line says in a statement written on Jan. 19. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the guest’s family and loved ones.”
“Star Breeze also retraced its route to support a man-overboard search until Navy aircraft arrived and assumed aerial operations,” the statement adds.
The cruise line notes that they are “cooperating fully” with Bahamian and French Polynesian authorities, in addition to “providing support to the guest’s family during this difficult time.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the French Polynesian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC Tahiti) for comment.
While Windstar Cruises did not confirm any details about the missing passenger, local outlet Tahiti Infos reports it was a 66-year-old American citizen who went overboard around 2 a.m. local time on Jan. 19.
According to data pulled by CruiseMapper, the ship was sailing near the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia at the time of the incident. The ship departed from Papeete, Tahiti, on Jan. 15, and is currently en route to Nuku Hiva island.
The ship is set to return to Papeete on Jan. 28, according to CruiseMapper.
The Star Breeze sails year-round in French Polynesia, with voyages departing almost every week, according to the cruise line’s website. It can accommodate 312 passengers and 204 crew members.
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