FBI looks into the death of a Royal Caribbean guest who reportedly assaulted crew members
The FBI is currently probing an incident that occurred aboard the Navigator of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which resulted in the death of a passenger.
According to Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokesperson from the Los Angeles office, the agency responded to the ship when it returned to port on Monday and is conducting an investigation regarding a death on board. However, additional details have not yet been disclosed.
Local news source Fox 11 reported that Michael Virgil, 35, allegedly assaulted two crew members during the weekend voyage. Eyewitness video reportedly shows him attempting to force his way into a crew member’s quarters before being subdued by security personnel.
The cruise set sail from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, on Friday, as per CruiseMapper.
In a statement to YSL News, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group expressed sorrow over the guest’s death. They added that the company is providing support to the family and collaborating with authorities throughout the investigation.
A fellow passenger, Christifer Mikhail, who recorded the incident, recounted to Fox 11 that Virgil was intoxicated, making threats to kill and physically assaulting crew members shortly after the ship departed. “I was pretty scared,” he recalled. “I felt trapped in that hallway.”
The exact cause of Virgil’s death is still under investigation by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner.