The USCG/Coast Guard has suspended its search for a crew member reported overboard from Norwegian Breakaway at 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, April 26th, while the vessel was en route from Bermuda to Boston.
The incident occurred ~12 mi/~20 km east of Wellfleet, off Cape Cod.
According to information released by CG authorities, the individual was observed falling from the vessel on onboard security systems, prompting an immediate response. The ship altered course to return to the last known position, where the crew deployed life-saving equipment and launched a rescue craft in an initial attempt to locate the individual.
Search operations were subsequently assumed by the USCG, with aerial and surface assets assigned to the area, including a fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter, and personnel from a nearby station. After an extended period of coordinated search activity, officials indicated that the operation had been suspended in the absence of further information that might refine the search area.
NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that the incident happened during the voyage and stated that the vessel had immediately notified the relevant rescue coordination centre, initiating a joint response. NCL further conveyed that operational control of the search had been transferred to the USCG, after which the vessel was permitted to resume its passage.
The circumstances surrounding the fall remain undetermined, and the identity of the crew member has not been publicly disclosed (later the crew was identified as Deepak Singh Rathore from Beri–Bhajangarh in Sikar, Rajasthan). The interruption to the voyage resulted in a delayed arrival at Boston, with subsequent embarkation procedures for the ship’s next sailing adjusted accordingly.
For more Norwegian Breakaway incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page