Crew Member Goes Overboard from Viking Star in Mediterranean

A crew member went overboard from the Viking Star cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday morning, prompting an immediate emergency response and search operation involving the ship and the Italian Coast Guard. The incident occurred at 11:31 a.m. local time between Greece and Italy, as the ship was en route from Crete to Palermo, Sicily. The crew conducted a six-and-a-half-hour search, including circling the area and deploying life rings and flares, before the Italian Coast Guard took over, though the likelihood of rescue after such time is low. Viking Cruises expressed deep sadness over the incident and committed to supporting the crew member's family, but provided limited details about the circumstances. Passengers onboard were visibly shocked, and the search area was widened as efforts continued, with the ship rerouted to Messina following the event. This marks the second overboard incident on a cruise ship within the week, highlighting the dangers involved.