Saturday, July 27, 2024
Police are conducting an investigation following a massive brawl on a Carnival cruise ship returning to port on Tuesday of this week. According to authorities, as many as 60 people were involved in the fight.
Officials on board the ship advised the Coast Guard of the on-board altercation who then sent one of their vessels from Staten Island to provide an escort to its destination at Manhattan's Pier 88. Coast Guard in turn notified NYPD who were present to intercept the ship upon arrival.
WATCH: 23 passengers were removed from the ship after a fight broke out on one of Carnival's South Pacific cruises. pic.twitter.com/M7jZeCPph5
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 20, 2018
It currently appears that no arrests have yet been made. Instead, focus was on the exact location of the cruise ship at the time of the incident. Depending on whether the ship was in New York, New Jersey, or international waters will determine whose jurisdiction the fight occurred, and therefore who will lead the investigation and make all, if any, arrests.
Carnival Magic released a statement acknowledging the event, stating that, “a number of guests were involved in an altercation in a nightclub” during the ship’s return to port.
The statement continued, “Thankfully no serious injuries were reported and our onboard security team intervened. The ship arrived as scheduled this morning and authorities were notified and met the ship to interview suspects and witnesses and conduct an investigation.”
As of right now, the fight reportedly started between two individuals on a dance floor in the ship’s nightclub. There is no information currently available on what started the fight, but as many as 60 other passengers ultimately got involved, intensifying the matter from a scuffle to an all-out-brawl.
According to Coast Guard and NYPD, no injuries were reported or treated, no weapons were involved in the fight, and neither department boarded the ship. Passengers were allowed to leave the ship after docking and did so without incident.
The eight-day Carnival Magic cruise departed from New York on June 20th.