Man Missing After Going Overboard From Carnival Panorama Off Baja
Passengers were directed to their cabins for about an hour while crew searched the ship and reviewed security camera footage that confirmed he had gone overboard.
Updated September 27, 2026
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for Carnival Panorama passenger Thomas Gigler after more than 41 hours of operations covering 1,707 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Gigler, a 56-year-old father of three from Redlands, California, remained missing when the search was suspended Tuesday pending new information.
Gigler was traveling with his wife, Michelle, and their three sons as the ship returned to Long Beach from a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise. The family was celebrating the couple’s anniversary.
Search covered more than 1,700 square miles
Rescue Coordination Center Alameda received the missing-person report at approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday from Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. The cruise ship told authorities that Gigler had last been seen at approximately 11:30 p.m. Friday.
The Coast Guard said Carnival Panorama was approximately 57 miles off the Mexican coast when Gigler was reported overboard. Multiple Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft participated in the search, along with a Mexican naval vessel and six Good Samaritan vessels.
The Coast Guard also coordinated with Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Mexico. It used the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue system to identify nearby vessels that could help.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Mr. Tom Gigler,” Capt. Jessica Davila, chief of incident management for the Coast Guard Southwest District, said. “Decisions to suspend search operations are never easy and are made with careful consideration of all available information. Our hearts are with those impacted by his loss.” The Coast Guard said the incident remains under investigation.
Search aboard Carnival Panorama
The shipboard response began after Gigler was reported missing. Crew members paged him and searched the ship, then reviewed surveillance recordings. “When notified of a missing guest, the ship’s team initiated search and investigation procedures, including reviewing CCTV footage and notifying both the U.S. and Mexico Coast Guards,” Carnival Cruise Line said. Passengers were directed to their cabins for about an hour while security personnel checked staterooms and scanned guests’ ship identification cards. Carnival subsequently informed passengers that camera footage had confirmed Gigler went overboard.
“I’ve done a lot of cruises here and never had anything like this done before,” passenger Michael Bedwell told KABC. He said passengers initially received little information beyond instructions to return to their rooms.
Carnival Panorama changed course and searched the surrounding waters before continuing north. Carnival said its care team was assisting Gigler’s family.
Passengers later created a small memorial aboard the ship with handwritten messages and prayers, along with other tributes for Gigler’s family and friends. Passenger Misty Hernandez shared video of the remembrance wall and wrote, “Most of us never knew him. We may never know his story. But for a few days, we were all on the same ship, sharing the same moments, and now we share the heaviness of knowing that someone who boarded this ship will not be going home.”
Carnival Panorama had departed Long Beach on Sept. 13 for calls at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. It returned to Long Beach on Sunday.
How overboard incidents are detected
Federal law requires cruise ships to have railings at least 42 inches high and to incorporate technology capable of capturing images of, or detecting, a person going overboard to the extent that such technology is available. Camera systems can record an incident without necessarily generating an immediate alert. Crews may have to review footage after someone is reported missing.
A G.P. Wild study prepared for Cruise Lines International Association identified 212 passenger and crew overboard incidents from 2009 through 2019 and calculated a rescue rate of 28.2%.
A December 2021 incident involving Carnival Miracle near Ensenada also occurred during a voyage from Long Beach. The Coast Guard searched for more than 31 hours before suspending that operation without finding the passenger.
