The US Coast Guard continued their search through the night for the woman who went overboard from Carnival's Holiday last Monday evening.
The search seems to have been scaled back with only two Coast Guard assets engaged in the search this morning. The Coast Guard Cutter Cobia from Mobile is actively searching the area which originally began at a point 75 miles south southwest of Pensacola. It is assisted in the air by a HC-144 Ocean Sentry rescue plane from Mobile.
So far, the Coast Guard says they have searched approximately 3,215 square miles since Monday, an area larger than the state of Delaware. Coast Guard computers track the weather and sea conditions expanding the search area where the currents could most likely carry the woman.
Interviews with the woman's family members on shore by the local media indicate that the woman and her husband had dinner Monday evening and they retired to their cabin. The woman's husband was awakened by the announcement sending all passengers to their cabin for a headcount due to a report of a passenger possibly going overboard. He was surprised that she was not in the cabin where he last saw her.
Holiday departed Mobile Monday afternoon on a 5-day cruise. It will arrive at its first port of call, Cozumel, somewhat delayed, this today after spending more than 12 hours searching for the woman Monday night and Tuesday morning before it was advised by the Coast Guard that it should continue on its itinerary.
The video report below, from Fox10 the local Fox affiliate in Ft. Walton Beach, includes some background on the woman and an interview with her son.
