Coast Guard Suspends Search for Cruise Ship Passenger

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard suspended its search late Tuesday for a 74-year-old passenger who apparently fell from a cruise ship near San Juan.

Coast Guard officials said on Wednesday that the search for Jean Pierre Knorr was suspended at 9:55 p.m. on Tuesday. Knorr was a passenger aboard the MSC Divina.

"Suspending a search is never an easy decision to make and it's one we take seriously," said Capt. Robert W. Warren, Sector San Juan commander. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jean Knorr during this difficult time."

Knorr was last seen around 3.a.m. on Monday by his wife.

Rescue crews searched for more than 35 hours, covering more than 2,000 square miles, according to the Coast Guard.

Officials said that the search was conducted by an Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew, Air Station Cape Cod HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, Air Station Clearwater C-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircrew and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley, which is a 154-foot Fast Response Cutter home ported in San Juan.

Watch standers with Sector San Juan Commander Center were notified Monday that Knorr was missing by the crew of the MSC Divina cruise ship.