Carnival cruise passenger apparently jumped overboard from ship, cruise line says

The search for a missing passenger who jumped overboard from a Carnival cruise ship has been suspended, officials confirm. 

At around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, April 17, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was notified that a cruise passenger had gone overboard.

According to a Carnival Cruise Line spokeswoman, the passenger, who was in his 70s, "climbed over a safety railing and jumped" off the Carnival Splendor ship, as reported by The Brisbane Times. 

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"The male guest was travelling with family, who alerted the ship’s crew of a possible missing person... A review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guest’s action," they said. 

The eighteen-year-old cruise ship was sailing from Moreton Island en route to Sydney, Australia, when the incident happened, resulting in an intensive air and sea search. 

However, the AMSA later said on Saturday evening that it had suspended the search operation, confirming that the missing person was not located and that all assets had been released from the task.

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"Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one," the Carnival spokesperson added. 

The hours-long search meant that the following sailing was delayed since Carnival Splendor did not return to Sydney on time. 

"...Carnival Splendor has been involved in a search and rescue operation, which will delay the [ship's] arrival in Sydney tomorrow... As a result, check-in and embarkation for your cruise has also been delayed and is now expected to commence from 8:30 P.M," reads the email sent to booked passengers. 

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Those with the earliest arrival appointments of 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. boarded the vessel from 8:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., with boarding finally concluding around 10:30 p.m. 

Carnival Splendor entered service for the cruise line in 2008. She measures 113,300 gross tons and can accommodate 3,012 passengers at double occupancy, according to Carnival. 

The Splendor Class ship was initially ordered for Costa Cruises. However, she was transferred to Carnival Cruise Line during construction. As such, she's one of the most unique vessels in the fleet with no sister ships. 

Second death reported during the sailing

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Unfortunately, the overboard incident was not the only tragedy reported during the sailing. Another passenger died earlier on Friday during a snorkeling tour. 

The 67-year-old woman was reportedly found unresponsive in the water and could not be revived. She was then pronounced dead at the scene. 

"Carnival Cruise Line is deeply saddened by the death of a guest on Moreton Island on Friday," the cruise line told USA TODAY. "Our Care Team is supporting the guest's family during this difficult time."

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Carnival Splendor departed Sydney, Australia, on April 15 on a four-night sailing to Moreton Island. She returned to Sydney on April 19, per Cruise Mapper.