By Melinda Munson

A 40-year-old woman went overboard and fell into the Lynn Canal from a cruise ship headed to Skagway around 3 a.m. on May 17. After nine hours, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for the missing passenger.

Skagway Police responded to the Celebrity Solstice when it docked in Skagway after the incident.

“I took the preliminary information then turned it over to the troopers,” said Police Chief Jerry (JJ) Reddick. 

The tragedy occured near Eldred Rock. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka, the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Juneau responded when the captain of the Solstice reported the woman overboard.

The search covered 68 nautical miles. The investigation is ongoing and the victim has not been publicly identified.