The FBI is investigating the death of a 12-year-old boy who fell from a balcony to a lower deck on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship returning to Galveston, Texas.
The incident occurred Saturday night on the Harmony of the Seas during the final night of a seven-day cruise through the western Caribbean, with stops in Honduras and Mexico. According to CruiseMapper, the ship returned to port on Sunday before setting out on another voyage the same day, according to The Washington Post.
The boy fell in the “Central Park” section on deck 8, where several bars, restaurants, and shops are located. Unfortunately, he did not survive before the ship arrived in Texas. Friends reportedly said the child was aboard with family for a birthday celebration.
The FBI confirmed it is investigating the incident but did not provide further details. As the “primary federal agency authorized to investigate potential crimes on the high seas,” the FBI stated it is working in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection.
The child’s death preceded a 2022 incident in which the Harmony of the Seas entered the exclusion zone of a Falcon 9 rocket’s flight path shortly before a launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It caused the mission’s fourth consecutive delay, Florida Today reports.
Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli stated that safety barriers on cruise ships are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards, designed to prevent guests from falling overboard.
According to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (CVSSA), all open decks and balconies must have railings at least 42 inches above the deck, with sturdy metal or Plexiglas panels underneath to ensure no one can slip through.
The child’s name and additional circumstances surrounding his death have not been released.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: kees torn – Harmony of the Seas, CC BY-SA 2.0,]
