The search for a passenger who fell overboard from a Taylor Swift-themed cruise has been called off, PEOPLE has learned.
A U.S. Coast Guard representative told PEOPLE Wednesday afternoon that the Royal Bahamas Defense Force — the agency leading the search for the missing 66-year-old woman — has suspended the search pending further developments and is no longer seeking assistance from the Coast Guard.
A woman fell off the Royal Caribbean The allure of the sea ship in the Bahamas, 17 miles north of Nassau, around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Coast Guard previously told PEOPLE.
As of Wednesday morning, rescue teams from the Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force were still searching for the missing passenger.
A picture of the lifeboat taken by a cruise passenger on Tuesday night.
Cathy Rice
A passenger fell overboard on a Taylor Swift-themed cruise
The Coast Guard added that it had diverted an HC-144 aircrew and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Force Station Miami to assist in the search.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force for more information.
A passenger on the ship told PEOPLE exclusively that rumors of the incident began circulating Tuesday night when what they described as a “lifeboat” was seen circling the vessel, which was at rest.
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Royal Caribbean’s ‘Allure of the Seas’ (left) and lifeboat seen on Tuesday night (right).
Henrik Kettunen/Getty; Cathy Rice
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A Royal Caribbean representative told PEOPLE on Wednesday morning that it is working with local authorities to try to locate the passengers.
“We are also providing support and assistance to the guest’s family at this difficult time,” the company said in a statement. “To respect the privacy of our guest’s family, we have no further details to share.”
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Nassau, Bahamas.
Travel agents Jessica Malerman, Nicole Rivera and Shelby Reyes partnered with Royal Caribbean to host the Swifties’ “In My Cruise Era” event, which set sail from Miami on Tuesday. It is not clear if the missing passenger was part of a group of Swift fans.
The group’s website states that fans who take the trip will “celebrate all things Taylor, make new friends, dress up in our favorite eras, exchange friendship bracelets, and enjoy everything this amazing ship has to offer!”
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Source: HIS Education