Coast Guard crews have suspended their search for a missing Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas crewmember 267 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Missing is Arron Hough, 20, of the United Kingdom.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico received a notification from the cruise ship Tuesday at approximately 1:45 p.m., stating a crewmember had reportedly gone overboard.
“We’ve been in contact with members of Mr. Hough’s family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them,” said Cmdr. Christopher Douglas, Coast Guard Sector San Juan chief of response. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.”
Coast Guard rescue crews were composed of Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplanes, Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplanes and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute (WMEC-620), homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Crews searched for approximately 83 hours covering 3,707 square miles.