Search continues after Carnival Panorama guest goes overboard

Thomas Gigler was traveling aboard Carnival Panorama with his wife and their three sons when he went overboard as the ship returned from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, toward Long Beach, California.

Carnival Cruise Line said Gigler was initially reported missing, prompting the crew to begin search and investigation procedures. According to the company, surveillance footage confirmed that the male guest had gone overboard. Carnival characterized the incident as a jump but did not publicly provide further details about why it happened. Authorities also had not announced a cause or explanation.

After reviewing the footage, the ship turned around at about 2 p.m. and searched nearby waters before resuming its voyage to Long Beach at approximately 4:30 p.m. Passengers were instructed to return to their rooms for a headcount and told that a missing-person search was underway. The order was lifted hours later, when the captain informed passengers that someone had gone overboard.

Carnival said U.S. and Mexican authorities were notified. A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson said fixed-wing aircraft had been deployed and that search operations were being coordinated with the Mexican Navy and commercial vessels in the area.

Gigler’s sister, Wendy Dowden, said the family was struggling to understand the incident and believed something unexpected had occurred before he went overboard.