Coast Guard Airlifts 26-Year-Old Crew Member from Navigator of the Seas Near San Diego - 3 September 2024

On 29 August 2024, a 26-year-old female crew member was airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard from Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas following a medical emergency approximately 30 miles west of San Diego, California. The crew member was transported to Hillcrest Medical Center at the University of California, San Diego, where she was reported to be in stable condition.

The Navigator of the Seas contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego at 12:10 a.m. local time, initiating an immediate response that resulted in the successful evacuation and transfer of the patient to shore-based medical care.

The medical emergency occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning when the crew member experienced severe lower abdominal pain. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station San Diego was dispatched to the vessel's location. Coast Guard aircrew successfully hoisted the affected crew member aboard the helicopter and transported her to Coast Guard Air Station San Diego, where she was transferred to hospital care.

Vessel

• Name: Navigator of the Seas
• Operator: Royal Caribbean
• Type: Cruise ship

Incident location

• Approximately 30 miles west of San Diego, California

Fatalities

• None reported.

Injuries

• 1 crew member (26-year-old female) with severe lower abdominal pain requiring emergency evacuation.

Rescued

• 1 crew member successfully airlifted and transferred to Hillcrest Medical Center, University of California, San Diego.

The Navigator of the Seas initiated contact with Coast Guard Sector San Diego at 12:10 a.m. local time. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station San Diego responded immediately, conducting a helicopter hoist operation to evacuate the patient from the vessel. The crew member was transported to Coast Guard Air Station San Diego and subsequently transferred to Hillcrest Medical Center for ongoing medical care.

The crew member was reported to be in stable condition at Hillcrest Medical Center, University of California, San Diego. The Navigator of the Seas continued its voyage following the evacuation.