A 78-year-old passenger was medically evacuated from the Celebrity Solstice, a Malta-flagged cruise ship, after experiencing a serious medical condition while at sea.
The evacuation occurred Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu received the medevac request at approximately 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, when the vessel was 276 miles southwest of Oahu. On the recommendation of the on-duty flight surgeon, the ship proceeded toward Oahu while crew and watchstanders monitored the patient.
The hoist was conducted Thursday roughly 58 miles offshore. A Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Maritime Strike Squadron 37 provided communications support and aerial overwatch during the operation, which was complicated by the offshore distance and nighttime conditions. The Coast Guard transported the passenger to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where he arrived in stable condition.
Lt. Taylor Gibbons, command duty officer for the Coast Guard Oceania District, credited the successful outcome to interagency cooperation between the Coast Guard and the Navy.
First report: Hawaii News Now
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