All 150 aboard rescued after Mississippi river cruise capsizes following collision

Ships have operated safely on the Mississippi River for years, Landry said, pledging to investigate the incident.

Joe Knab of Kansas, still covered in mud from the crash, told New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU that the cruise ship capsized swiftly after the collision. He spent roughly 20 minutes in the water before rescue, describing how the vessel was sinking rapidly.

“When we first went in we were bobbing underneath the water; it was sinking pretty fast, but we finally got out of there,” he recounted.

Jamie Holford, a witness, told CBS (the BBC’s US partner) that he saw the cruise ship strike the dock after the impact.

“It sounded like a war movie. Just imagine tons of steel crunching. That’s what it sounded like,” he said. “It looked like something off the Titanic.”

Holford added that he observed passengers and crew “hollering” and “crying” as they attempted to abandon the sinking vessel.

The American Heritage, which can accommodate up to 150 guests, features a glass‑enclosed restaurant, a fitness centre and three guest lounges, according to its website.

Constructed in 2015, the vessel has at least four decks.

Source link