Search Suspended For Dad Who Jumped From Long Beach-Bound Cruise Ship

LONG BEACH, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a Redlands father who jumped overboard from a Carnival cruise ship returning to Long Beach, ending a massive multinational search that covered more than 1,700 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.

Thomas Gigler, 56, remained missing after Coast Guard aircraft, a Mexican naval vessel and six other vessels spent more than 41 hours searching for him, according to a Coast Guard statement. The search was suspended Tuesday pending new information after crews covered more than 1,707 square miles without any sightings of Gigler, the Coast Guard said.

“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.”

Gigler, a father of three from Redlands, was traveling aboard the Carnival Panorama with his wife, Michelle, and their three sons as the ship returned to Long Beach from a seven-night cruise to Mexico. Patch reported Tuesday that his family was struggling to understand what had happened. The Coast Guard said the incident remains under investigation.

More Than 41 Hours Searching The Pacific

The Coast Guard's latest account provides the clearest picture yet of both the timeline and the scale of the effort to find Gigler. Rescue Coordination Center Alameda received the initial report of a missing person 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.

RCC Alameda assumed responsibility for coordinating the search and launched multiple Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft. The Coast Guard also coordinated with Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Mexico and used the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue system, known as AMVER, to identify vessels that could assist.

A Mexican naval vessel and six Good Samaritan vessels conducted surface searches, while Coast Guard aircraft searched from above. The Coast Guard said the Panorama was approximately 57 miles off the Mexican coast when the passenger was reported overboard.

Carnival previously said the ship's crew began search and investigation procedures after Gigler was reported missing, including reviewing surveillance footage and notifying U.S. and Mexican authorities. The Coast Guard's latest statement says Carnival confirmed that Gigler jumped overboard. Patch first reported Monday that U.S. and Mexican authorities were searching for the then-unidentified passenger.

Search Suspended Pending New Information

Gigler's disappearance occurred as the Panorama was returning from a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise that departed Long Beach Sept. 13 and visited Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta before returning Sept. 20.

Passengers aboard the ship created a small memorial for Gigler after learning he had gone overboard, with handwritten messages, prayers and other tributes left for his family and friends.

The Coast Guard's decision to suspend the search does not mean the investigation into what happened has ended. The agency specifically said the search was suspended “pending new information” and said the incident remains under investigation. Neither the Coast Guard nor Carnival has publicly explained why Gigler jumped overboard.

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