The U.S. Coast Guard says it's searching for a passenger who reportedly fell overboard from Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas mega-cruise ship about 47 miles east of Fort Lauderdale.
The 21-year-old woman from Bartlett, Tennessee -- whose name has not been released -- was reported missing on Sunday night around 9:30. The Coast Guard says the search stretches across 320 miles of the Atlantic Ocean.
The search is expected to carry on for as long as possible, "until all assets are exhausted," according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Third-Class Sabrina Elgammal.
After the disappearance was reported Sunday night, the ship captain stopped the ship and had it turn around. The captain then alerted the U.S. and Bahamian Coast Guards of the incident.
The Allure of the Seas notified Coast Guard Sector Miami about 11:30 p.m., according to Elgammal. The U.S. Coast Guard assumed full control of the search at 3:30 a.m.
The Coast Guard used an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew from Air Station Miami, an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft aircrew and a C-130 fixed-wing aircrew to search the water. The Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater have also been in on the search for the woman.
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