Coast Guard Suspends Search for Woman Who Fell Overboard on Carnival Cruise

The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday suspended the search for a woman who fell overboard from a Carnival cruise ship.

The woman, in her mid-20s, went overboard from the balcony of her stateroom aboard the Carnival Miracle cruise ship near Ensenada, Mexico, at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, Coast Guard Petty Officer Adam Stanton said.

Coast Guard personnel from San Diego had joined the Mexican Navy in searching for the woman.

The Coast Guard said on Twitter than an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was also involved in the search and that the USCG Cutter Forrest Rednour is "scheduled to continue the search throughout the night."

But the Coast Guard later announced the search was being halted after more than 31 hours.

"After 31+ hours of searching, #USCG assets are standing down pending additional information," the Coast Guard wrote in a tweet on Sunday. "USCG conducted first light searches this morning off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico with negative results. USCG assets are transiting back to U.S. waters," the tweet added.

The cruise ship left on Thursday for a three-day voyage. It returned to port in Long Beach on Sunday, where the FBI was waiting to investigate, according to KABC.

Daniel Miranda, a passenger on the ship, told the station that an announcement went out at around 3 a.m. on Saturday that someone had gone overboard.

"They told us we were stuck looking for the lady, and then they called us to clear us up," Miranda said. "The crew's been very tight-lipped and of course, they've had different areas of the ship that have [been] cornered off for their search when they were searching."

In a statement released on Saturday, Carnival said the ship was released and proceeded to Ensenada after assisting with the search.

"We advised Carnival Miracle guests this morning of an overboard incident involving one of our guests from the balcony of her stateroom," the statement said.

"After assisting the U.S Coast Guard with a search, the ship has been released and is proceeding to Ensenada and will then return to Long Beach as scheduled on Sunday morning. Our thoughts are with the guest and her family, and our Care Team is providing support."

The Carnival Miracle has a total guest capacity of 2,680 and a crew of approximately 910, according to the Carnival Cruise Line website. The ship has 1,062 staterooms and 12 guest decks.

Carnival and the Coast Guard have been contacted for additional comment.