Coast Guard Airlifts Injured Cruise Passenger Near Charleston

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew evacuated a 71-year-old cruise passenger with a head injury about 76 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, on November 4, 2026. The man was flown to the Medical University of South Carolina, where he arrived in stable condition. The passenger’s identity and the circumstances surrounding his injury were not disclosed.

The Coast Guard did not name the vessel. The livery and upper-deck arrangement visible in its rescue video, together with ship-tracking data, point to AIDA Cruises’ AIDAdiva, although that identification remains unconfirmed.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard’s Southeast District received the request for medical assistance. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Savannah responded, and footage released by the service shows the passenger being hoisted from the ship into the aircraft.

AIDAdiva had been scheduled to call at Hamilton, Bermuda, on the day of the evacuation. That visit was cancelled, and the vessel was already heading toward Port Canaveral when the rescue occurred, reportedly following a route change to avoid a developing tropical system.

Tracking records show the ship making a sharp turn toward Charleston before resuming its course for Port Canaveral at approximately 3:30 p.m. AIDA Cruises has not publicly confirmed any major itinerary disruption resulting from the airlift.

The vessel had departed New York on November 2 for a 20-night Caribbean sailing.

AIDAdiva docked at Port Canaveral on November 5 and stayed until the following day. It subsequently reached Miami on November 7 as originally scheduled, remaining overnight before departing on November 8.

The published itinerary also listed Celebration Key on November 9 and Nassau on November 10. As of November 11, the ship was heading toward Grand Turk, with arrival scheduled for November 12.