The U.S. Coast Guard searched the Gulf of Mexico for a 28-year-old man from Houma, Louisiana, reported missing from the Carnival Glory cruise ship.
Departing from New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 12, 2023, the cruise ship embarked on a week-long journey, planning stops in Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, and Cozumel, Mexico. It is scheduled to return to New Orleans on November 19, 2023.
Tyler Lee Barnett was last seen aboard the ship at about 11:40 pm on Sunday, a fact confirmed by his sister, also a passenger on the Carnival Glory. Early Monday morning, on November 13, 2023, the ship’s security team was alerted to Barnett’s disappearance. They conducted a prompt search and reviewed the onboard camera footage, subsequently informing the Coast Guard of the situation.
The Coast Guard’s search operation for Barnett started on Monday afternoon. They deployed aircrews to cover a 200-square-mile area near SouthWest Pass, off the Louisiana coast. The search efforts were challenged by severe weather, including gale-force winds and high seas with 8-12 foot waves, causing a temporary suspension of the operation overnight. The search was resumed with additional resources as soon as weather conditions improved.
Despite this incident, the Carnival Glory continued its planned itinerary, heading next to Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Initially, there were no indications from the cruise ship that an individual had either fallen or jumped overboard. The search was instigated due to Barnett’s absence on the vessel. Mariners in the Gulf of Mexico were alerted about the missing passenger and the search through broadcasts and messages.
However, new information emerged on November 15. Security footage from the Carnival Glory showed Barnett, a father of three-year-old twin girls, jumping overboard around 1:40 a.m. on Monday. Reports suggest that he reached the jumping point by climbing onto a lifeboat. This footage, however, has not been made public.
In response to Barnett’s disappearance, his family and friends are using social media to share information and seek support in the search efforts.
The Carnival Glory, measuring an impressive 952 feet, can host up to 2,980 passengers and 1,150 crew members.
