A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Royal Caribbean after 35-year-old Michael Virgil died aboard the Navigator of the Seas in December 2024. The suit, filed by his fiancée Connie Aguilar, alleges that crew members overserved Virgil at least 33 alcoholic drinks, despite obvious signs of intoxication.
After becoming disoriented and agitated while trying to find his cabin, Virgil was tackled by crew members, who allegedly restrained him by placing their full body weight on his back and torso, impairing his ability to breathe.
According to the lawsuit, at the captain’s direction, crew then pepper-sprayed him and administered a sedative, leading to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and ultimately, Virgil’s death. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing mechanical asphyxia, alcohol intoxication, obesity, and an enlarged heart.
Passenger video shows Virgil acting erratically and attempting to force open a door before being subdued. The suit claims Royal Caribbean was negligent for overserving alcohol, failing to supervise an obviously intoxicated passenger, improperly restraining him, and employing inadequately trained medical staff. It also accuses the company of aggressively promoting alcohol sales on board. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and was filed in federal court in Miami, where Royal Caribbean is headquartered.
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