Coast Guard Carries Out Urgent Airlift of British Passenger From Star of the Seas
Key Aspects:
The US Coast Guard performed a nighttime airlift from Star of the Seas 200 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Rico.
A 64-year-old male British passenger was evacuated from the ship due to a medical emergency.
The incident occurred during the ship’s March 8, 2026 sailing, an Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
An emergency medical situation arose on Star of the Seas on March 9, 2026 while the ship was 230 miles (200 nautical miles) northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
The ship had departed Port Canaveral the day before on Sunday, March 8 and had enjoyed the next day visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay. After leaving the private island at approximately 4 p.m., Star of the Seas was heading for St. Thomas as the next stop on the 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
Unfortunately, a 64-year-old male British passenger experienced a medical emergency along the way, requiring a precision airlift from the ship. The ship sent out the request for emergency medical assistance on Monday, March 9.
A US Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and its expertly trained crew from Air Station Borinquen on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico was able to respond. The crew airlifted not only the guest, but also his next-of-kin and a Star of the Seas nurse from the ship’s flight deck for transportation to the Centro Medico Hospital for further treatment.
“This was a great example of the professionalism of all of the Coast Guard units, medical professionals, and the crew of Star of the Seas to execute an early morning hoist of the patient,” said Lt. Nicholas Forsythe, Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen copilot for the rescue.
“The coordinated efforts ensured the individual was able to safely reach the higher level of care he required.”
A video shows the harrowing rescue with the litter being hoisted to the helicopter as the ship was underway.
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Because the airlift was described as happening in the early morning hours, it is unclear whether the guest was airlifted on Monday or later in the week, perhaps on Tuesday morning as the ship got closer to Puerto Rico. To safeguard the guest’s privacy, no further information about his condition or treatment has been released.
There is no indication that the remainder Star of the Seas‘ itinerary was impacted. The 248,663-gross-ton vessel returned to Port Canaveral as planned on Sunday, March 15, ready to welcome another 5,600+ guests aboard.
The Challenges of At-Sea Airlifts
Cruise ships are well-equipped to handle many different situations, but even the most modern and largest vessels cannot manage every medical emergency. When the need arises, it may be necessary to evacuate a guest or crew member from the ship to a hospital facility on land.
No at-sea medical evacuation is simple or easy, but these operations can be even more complicated when a ship is far from shore.
When a ship is at sea, the medical staff onboard will coordinate the necessary care and will make an evacuation decision after consultation with on-shore experts and rescue evacuation teams.
Distance from shore, severe weather, the patient’s immediate condition, the ship’s itinerary, and other factors can all influence the timing of at-sea rescues.
Ultimately, the health and safety of all guests, crew members, and rescue personnel is the top priority in such situations. Rescues will be attempted whenever possible, even if a ship’s route or itinerary must be adjusted to compensate.
Cruise Hive has previously reported on all types of adjustments to such rescues. At times, a ship may return to its homeport or a recent port of call to evacuate a guest if the vessel is close enough to shore.
In some cases, a ship might make an unscheduled stop at a different port for a medical evacuation. Star of the Seas did exactly that in November 2025. At other times, speeding up to get closer to shore in order for an airlift team to reach the ship safely is the best option.
Regardless of the situation, all cruise guests should be grateful that the US Coast Guard teams and other rescue personnel stand ready whenever their emergency services may be needed.
Coast Guard Carries Out Urgent Airlift of British Passenger From Star of the Seas