72-Year-Old Passenger Presumed Overboard on Ruby Princess Cruise Near San Francisco
A tragic incident unfolded aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship on December 2, 2024, when a 72-year-old male passenger was reported missing and presumed overboard. The ship, which was nearing San Francisco after a 5-day voyage along the West Coast, became the center of a search and rescue operation after the passenger’s sudden disappearance. Despite extensive efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard, the man’s whereabouts remain unknown, casting a somber shadow over what was meant to be a relaxing getaway.
Timeline of Events
The Ruby Princess was nearing the end of its “West Coast Getaway with San Diego” cruise when the 72-year-old passenger was reported missing early on December 2, 2024. The ship had been sailing from San Francisco, with stops in Ensenada and San Diego. Around the early hours of the morning, the ship’s crew noticed that the passenger, who was traveling alone, could not be located.
CCTV Footage
After a thorough onboard search, the ship’s crew reviewed CCTV footage, which indicated that the man had likely gone overboard sometime before the ship reached San Francisco. This discovery prompted an immediate response, as the situation was swiftly classified as a “man overboard” incident.
U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) was alerted, and a large-scale search operation was launched. At approximately 3 PM local time, an Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft was deployed from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento. The aircraft surveyed the waters approximately 45 miles off the coast of Monterey, hoping to locate any sign of the missing man.
An hour later, a Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter was dispatched from Air Station San Francisco to continue the search. The rescue team conducted a thorough aerial search for several hours. Despite their dedicated efforts, no trace of the man was found, and the search was ultimately called off after failing to yield results.
Cruise Industry Safety Measures
Incidents such as this one inevitably lead to questions about the safety protocols on cruise ships. The Ruby Princess, like many other large vessels, is equipped with security systems such as CCTV cameras, man overboard alarms, and crew members trained to respond to emergencies. Cruise companies have made significant strides in improving onboard safety, but as this tragedy demonstrates, there is always room for improvement. Industry experts have called for increased vigilance, especially for solo travelers, and the implementation of advanced tracking technologies that could prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
