The U.S. Coast Guard has been engaged in an extensive search across the Gulf of Mexico, focused on locating a 28-year-old man from Houma, Louisiana.
The man was reported missing from the Carnival Glory cruise ship, raising significant concern and prompting a large-scale search operation.
The Carnival Glory embarked on its voyage from New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, November 12, 2023. The week-long cruise was planned to visit several exotic locations, including Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, and Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to New Orleans on November 19, 2023.
Tyler Lee Barnett, the missing man, was last seen on the cruise ship at about 11:40 pm on Sunday. His sister, who accompanied him on the Carnival Glory, along with 13 relatives, confirmed this timeline. Upon realizing Barnett’s absence, a family member alerted the ship’s security team early on Monday, November 13, 2023. The security team immediately reviewed onboard camera footage and notified the Coast Guard of the unfolding situation.
The search operation for Barnett started on Monday afternoon. The Coast Guard deployed aircrews to search a vast 200-square-mile area off the Louisiana coast near SouthWest Pass. However, the search teams encountered severe weather conditions, including gale-force winds and rough seas, with waves reaching 8-12 feet. These conditions forced a temporary pause in the search overnight, but it resumed as soon as the weather improved.
Despite the ongoing search, the Carnival Glory continued on its scheduled route, stopping next at Montego Bay, Jamaica, before proceeding to other planned destinations.
The Coast Guard initially did not receive any reports indicating that an individual had fallen or jumped overboard. The search began based solely on Barnett’s inability to be found on the ship. Alerts and messages were broadcast to mariners in the Gulf of Mexico to assist in the search.
On November 15, new information surfaced. Security footage from the cruise ship showed Barnett jumping overboard at around 1:40 a.m. on Monday. Before jumping, Barnett reportedly climbed onto a lifeboat. The footage, however, has not been released to the public.
Family and friends of Barnett have turned to social media, sharing information and seeking help in the ongoing search efforts. Barnett is the father of twin girls and works on barges in Houma.
The Carnival Glory, at 952 feet long, can accommodate up to 2,980 passengers and 1,150 crew members. The cruise line has yet to make additional statements regarding this incident.
