A crew member fell overboard from the Viking Star cruise ship in the Mediterranean on October 27 around 11:30 a.m. The cruise line reported that an emergency response was swiftly initiated, and a comprehensive search operation commenced in collaboration with the Italian Coast Guard. The incident occurred approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Calabria, as the ship was en route between Crete and Sicily.
The Italian Coast Guard confirmed they received a report regarding the crew member’s fall. Ongoing search and rescue efforts have been underway, but Viking Star was released from these operations on Monday evening and resumed its voyage. The cruise line expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the crew member’s family and pledging continued support during this challenging time.
While Viking declined to provide further details to respect the family’s privacy, they indicated that updates would be shared as appropriate. Additionally, inquiries regarding whether the ship is equipped with an overboard detection system—designed to improve response times—went unanswered. Historical data from 2009 to 2019 reveals that there were 212 overboard incidents globally, with only 48 individuals rescued, highlighting the severity of such situations.
