World · North America · 1 hr ago
Injured captain stayed aboard overturned Mississippi River cruise ship until rescue
A cruise ship overturned on the Mississippi River in the United States.
Captain Leonard Stewart was injured in the incident.
He remained aboard until everyone had been rescued, according to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno.
He left the ship only after he knew all those aboard were safe.
The account highlights the captain's wait for the rescue to finish, despite his injury.
No further details about the incident or what happens next were provided.
The American Heritage cruise ship capsized on the Mississippi River in New Orleans after being hit by a tanker on Friday.
Captain Leonard Stewart, who was injured, stayed aboard until he knew everyone had been rescued.
All 191 passengers and crew survived, according to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno.
Eight people remained hospitalized on Saturday, including two in serious condition.
The collision is under investigation, with officials examining a possible steering issue involving the tanker.
- Who
- Captain Leonard Stewart and the 191 passengers and crew aboard the American Heritage.
- What
- The cruise ship capsized after a tanker hit it; everyone aboard survived.
- When
- Friday. The collision occurred at about 12:30 p.m.
- Where
- On the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Why
- The tanker struck the docked cruise ship. Investigators are examining a possible steering issue involving the tanker.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The docked American Heritage was hit by the 520-foot tanker Atlantic Asphalt.
Emergency services removed 87 people from the ship, and rescuers worked for about 30 to 45 minutes to ensure everyone else was out of the river.
Stewart stayed aboard until he knew where the passengers and crew were, then became the last person to leave.
Officials said eight people remained hospitalized, including two in serious condition, and the NTSB was investigating the collision.
- Ship
- American Heritage
- Operator
- American Cruise Lines
- People aboard
- 191 passengers and crew
- Tanker
- Atlantic Asphalt, 520 feet long
- Hospitalized on Saturday
- 8 people, including 2 in serious condition
- Estimated removal time
- Weeks
2 sources
What people are saying
truly a miracle on the Mississippi
any indication that this is terrorism-related in any way, shape or form
Whether it's 10 feet of water or 200 feet, having those vests, having that population put those vests on and kind of float upriver while we retrieve them, I think was the best factor of success
We rescued about nine people
Posts on X
We are proud of our crew and grateful for the first responders following yesterday’s incident on the Mississippi River. The fast actions of Captain Leonard Stewart and our crew allowed for a rapid evacuation of the vessel after the American Heritage was struck by a large tanker