SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Coast Guard rescue crews ended a three-day search Monday afternoon for a man who jumped overboard into Mona Passage waters from the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Adventure of the Seas Saturday night, during the cruise ship’s transit to Puerto Rico.
Still missing is Tien Phuoc Nguyen a 26-year-old man and Canadian citizen, who reportedly was on a cruise with his family when he was last seen by other cruise ship passengers jumping overboard at approximately 8:46 p.m. Saturday. The Adventure of the Seas reportedly was transiting 15 nautical miles east of Mona Island, Puerto Rico when the man jumped overboard.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this missing passenger during these difficult times," said Capt. Drew Pearson, Sector San Juan commander.
Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received notification of the incident from the Adventure of the Seas at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday.
Coast Guard rescue crews searched more than 44 operational hours during 10 air searches and nine surface searches aboard multiple Coast Guard helicopters and Coast Guard cutters in the Mona Passage.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations is investigating the circumstances which may have led to the man jumping overboard.
Coast Guard assets involved in the search were:
•MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
•The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing, a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico
•The Coast Guard Cutter Drummond, a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico
•U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary fixed-wing aircraft
