A 56-year-old man named Thomas Gigler jumped overboard from the Carnival Panorama during its voyage from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Long Beach, California late Friday night, September 18, 2026.
Gigler was reported missing by his family the next morning, Saturday, September 19, around 10:30 a.m. after they could not locate him. Guest services were requested to page him at that time, and the ship made announcements about the missing passenger around 11:00 a.m.
The cruise ship initiated search and rescue operations at approximately 2:00 p.m., more than three hours after the initial missing report. After unsuccessful search efforts, Carnival Panorama
resumed its course to Long Beach about 5:00 p.m.
Coast Guard and Navy Search Operations
The U.S. Coast Guard received the initial missing person report at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and noted that Gigler was last seen at roughly 11:30 p.m. Friday. The Coast Guard coordinated search activities with the Mexican Navy and local commercial vessels in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California and Mexico.
Search efforts covered a 1,707-square-mile area over 41 hours before the Coast Guard suspended operations without locating Gigler.
Onboard Response and Passenger Impact
After the missing report, passengers aboard Carnival Panorama were ordered to return to their cabins for a headcount and search. The ship’s
team reviewed CCTV footage to investigate the incident.
Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the overboard incident stating, “When notified of a missing guest, the ship’s team initiated search and investigation procedures, including reviewing CCTV footage and notifying both the U.S. and Mexico Coast Guards.” The cruise line also provided support to Gigler’s family, who were traveling with him on an anniversary trip with their three children.
Official Statements and Passenger Accounts
Carnival spokesperson offered thoughts and prayers for the family while the U.S. Coast Guard’s Jessica Davila, Chief of Incident Management for the southwest district, said, “Decisions to suspend search operations are never easy and are
made with careful consideration of all available information. Our hearts are with those impacted by his loss.”
Passenger Misty Hernandez remarked on repeated public announcements and referenced the trip as an anniversary celebration.
Safety Procedures and Industry Context
The Carnival Panorama did not activate automatic man overboard alert systems, relying instead on manual CCTV footage review, which delayed the search initiation by more than three hours after the missing report. This delay contributed to the unsuccessful rescue.
The ship lacks automated man overboard detection technology required under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010. In contrast, other cruise lines like Disney Cruise
Line have installed such systems that reduce rescue times significantly.
The incident marks the 441st overboard case from cruise ships or ferries since 2000 and highlights ongoing challenges in timely detection and response to man overboard events on cruise vessels.
