Coast Guard abandons hunt for missing cruise ship passenger

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) – The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended a search for a cruise ship passenger who apparently fell overboard into the Gulf of Mexico a day after leaving Galveston, Texas.

A Coast Guard statement says the search for 33-year-old Samantha Broberg was suspended Sunday evening after crews searched for more than 20 hours, covering more than 4,300 square miles.

Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement that people traveling with Broberg reported her missing Friday. Ship surveillance video showed a woman falling overboard about 2 a.m. Friday. Carnival says she can be seen sitting on a deck railing then falling back into the water.

The Associated Press left a message Monday seeking comment from Broberg’s family, in Arlington, Texas.

The Carnival Liberty docked in Galveston on Monday morning.