- 22 Carnival cruise ship passengers robbed at gunpoint in Mexico
Caribbean Waters A dream vacation turned into a nightmare Sunday night when heavily armed pirates stormed the Carnival Horizon, holding passengers at gunpoint and taking control of part of the ship for nearly 45 terrifying minutes.
Eyewitnesses describe a horrifying scene: a group of men in tactical gear arrived on high-speed jet skis under cover of darkness, scaling the ship’s side with ropes and ladders. Chaos erupted as explosions rocked the lower deck and masked gunmen forced dozens of passengers to lie face down, threatening to kill anyone who moved.
> “They kicked open doors, shouted at everyone to get on the ground, and said they were taking the ship. I thought I was going to die,” said Angela T., a retired teacher from Florida.
Screams echoed through the corridors. Parents were seen shielding children, while others jumped over railings to hide below deck. Social media exploded with live video from terrified passengers begging for help.
The ship’s security team fought back, engaging the attackers in a brief gunfight before locking down key areas and initiating emergency protocols. A Coast Guard chopper arrived 30 minutes later, forcing the pirates to flee.
At least 8 passengers were seriously injured, and 3 remain unaccounted for as of this morning. Several others are being treated for trauma and injuries caused by stampedes during the chaos.
Carnival Cruise Line has not released full details but confirmed that the Horizon is en route to PortMiami under military escort. An investigation is underway, with federal authorities treating the incident as a “possible terrorist-level piracy operation.”
Online reactions have been explosive—with many calling this the worst maritime breach in modern
cruise history.
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