Alaskan Authorities Recover Body of Missing Cruise Passenger
A 62-year-old Kentucky resident, Marites Buenafe, has been found deceased after going missing during a shore excursion in Juneau, Alaska. The discovery concludes a search effort initiated when Ms. Buenafe failed to return to the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship on Tuesday.
Search and Recovery Operation
The Alaska Department of Public Safety confirmed that Ms. buenafe’s body was located Thursday evening by a National Guard Army helicopter crew positioned near the Gold Ridge crest. A collaborative recovery operation was subsequently undertaken, involving the Alaska State Troopers, the Juneau Mountain Rescue team, Temsco Helicopters, and the National Guard. These teams worked diligently to retrieve the body from the challenging terrain.
investigation and Next Steps
Authorities have informed Ms. Buenafe’s family of the tragic outcome.Her remains will be transferred to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for a thorough autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
Circumstances of Disappearance
The Juneau Police Department initiated the search after receiving a report that Ms.Buenafe had informed family members of her intention to disembark the Norwegian Bliss for a solo walk earlier that day.When the ship departed, she was not on board. Cruise ship passenger incidents, while relatively rare, underscore the importance of adhering to safety guidelines during independent exploration. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), approximately 32 million passengers cruised worldwide in 2023, with a small percentage involving reported incidents of this nature.
Related Alaskan News
This incident follows a series of recent aviation-related events in Alaska:
Two fatalities and one injury resulted from a plane crash in the state.
Three individuals were rescued from an icy lake following a separate plane crash.
* An F-35 fighter jet crashed at Eielson Air Base in Alaska.