New Orleans boat crash called ‘miracle on the Mississippi’ as everyone is accounted for, officials say

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called it “a literal miracle on the Mississippi” Friday after officials said everyone was accounted for following a tanker collision that capsized a docked New Orleans river cruiser and sent 32 passengers to hospitals.

“This is a miracle,” Landry said at a news conference. “The Mississippi River is not some quiet pond, right? I mean, there were challenges out there.”

Mayor Helena Moreno said none of the hospitalized passengers had critical injuries. Two Harbor Police officers were also hospitalized and were in good condition, officials said.

CRUISE PASSENGER HAILED AS HERO AFTER JUMPING INTO WATER TO SAVE 84-YEAR-OLD MAN

“We have zero people unaccounted for, which is a miracle,” Moreno said, crediting local, state and federal responders who jumped into the water to help.

Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham confirmed the search and rescue operation had ended.

“We got everybody,” Landry added.

TEEN BOATER FOUND CLINGING TO CAPSIZED VESSEL AFTER 3 GO MISSING; 2 BODIES RECOVERED

Tugboats surround the Atlantic Asphalt tanker in New Orleans following its collision with the docked American Heritage river cruiser on Nov. 13, 2026. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

Officials said the tanker lost control before striking the American Heritage. Passengers were evacuating when the cruiser began taking on water and capsized, leaving some people in the river and others on a portion of the vessel still above water.

Harbor Police responded first, firefighters lowered ladders over the dock and nearby vessels helped pull people from the water. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said a police drone already airborne for an unrelated theft call was redirected to the crash within moments.

Landry said the incident remains under active investigation. Burnham said investigators were examining an apparent loss of steering, but the exact cause was not yet known.

MOM LOSES GRIP ON DAUGHTER AS PASSENGER FERRY CAPSIZES WITH 20 PEOPLE STILL MISSING

A map shows the site of the tanker collision at the Port of New Orleans. (Fox News)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) initially announced that it was dispatching a Go Team to investigate the collision, with investigators expected to arrive on Saturday morning.

However, the agency later said that lingering flight disruptions from Friday’s nationwide FAA ground stop had forced a change in plans.

“Due to the residual delays from the nationwide ground stop, the NTSB will no longer send a board member and will instead send a team of investigators by ground to the scene of the vessel collision in New Orleans,” the agency wrote on X.

11-NIGHT CARIBBEAN CRUISE ABRUPTLY CANCELED AFTER COAST GUARD DETAINS SHIP

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage around 12:30 p.m. on the Mississippi River, the Port of New Orleans said in a statement shared with Fox News. Port officials initially reported about 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, aboard. Moreno later estimated roughly 180 to 190 people were on the ship.

University Medical Center New Orleans and other LCMC Health hospitals had earlier received an estimated two dozen patients following the incident, LCMC Health said in a statement. Medical teams were evaluating patients and providing care while coordinating with emergency responders. Moreno subsequently announced the updated total of 32 hospitalized passengers.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Coast Guard was supporting state and local responders near mile marker 96 on the Mississippi River.

“We are throwing every asset we have to help rescue missing passengers,” Mullin wrote on X, adding that DHS was coordinating closely with Louisiana officials. “Our prayers are with all those impacted by this terrible tragedy.”

TWO DEAD, INCLUDING INFANT, AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES IN NEW YORK HARBOR; 12 RESCUED

American Cruise Lines confirmed that guests and crew were evacuated. In an updated statement, the company thanked the Coast Guard, its crew and local first responders for their rescue efforts and said it was helping everyone aboard find accommodations.

“We are getting everyone who was aboard the ship settled into hotels and making sure they have everything they need,” the company said. “We are also in close contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, New Orleans Police, and other agencies, and will continue to coordinate with them.”

The United Cajun Navy said on X that it was on standby at the port.

The New Orleans Fire Department and NOLA Ready said in an earlier Facebook update that multiple people had been rescued and search and rescue operations were ongoing at the time of the post.

Acadian Ambulance said in an earlier update on X that it had transported eight patients and had 15 units and two sprint trucks on scene to assist New Orleans EMS and other first responders. The ambulance service said it was prepared to send additional units if needed.

Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel were on scene conducting rescue and response operations.

AT LEAST 40 RESCUED, 2 DEAD AS BOAT CAPSIZES AFTER MACHETE FIGHT NEAR PUERTO RICO

Passengers were brought inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for triage and assistance, officials said. Moreno said crews conducted roll calls and checked hospital lists to account for everyone.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, center, stands beside Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry during a news conference about the American Heritage river cruiser’s capsizing on Nov. 13, 2026. (Kat Ramirez/Fox News Digital )

Officials were arranging hotel rooms, transportation, replacement prescriptions and ways for passengers to contact relatives after losing phones, identification and other belongings. The Red Cross and medical partners were helping, Moreno said. She said no children were aboard, and no injuries were reported on the tanker.

The American Heritage had been docked about two hours before the collision to begin letting passengers off.

According to a news release, skies were clear with no precipitation around the time of the collision, with temperatures in the upper 60s and north winds of 8 to 12 mph, gusting to 15 to 17 mph. The release listed the current water temperature at around 66 degrees.

At the news conference, Landry said Moreno called him in Baton Rouge to request resources. He contacted Mullin before President Donald Trump called to offer whatever assistance Louisiana needed. Landry said the state would continue helping until passengers were able to return home.

In a follow-up post on X, Landry credited first responders with saving “countless lives” and reiterated that all passengers had been accounted for.

“Because of the heroic work of our first responders ALL PASSENGERS have been accounted for. This is nothing short of a miracle,” he wrote.

Trump also praised the rescue effort in a statement shared by the White House on X.

“Thank you to the United States Coast Guard for doing such an incredible job of rescue, and other work, having to do with the crash of the two ships in Louisiana,” Trump said. “Likewise, all of Law Enforcement and First Responders were fantastic.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on X that the NTSB chair called to brief him on the collision. In a post describing rescues as ongoing, before officials announced everyone was accounted for, Johnson said he was monitoring the situation and praying for passengers and crew to be recovered safely.

“So grateful for this update,” Johnson wrote in a follow-up post, quoting Landry’s announcement that all passengers had been accounted for and calling the rescue “nothing short of a miracle.”

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also thanked first responders.

“Becky and I are praying for everyone involved in the terrible ship collision in New Orleans,” Kennedy wrote on X. “We’re grateful for the brave first responders working to rescue those in danger and praying everyone makes it home safely.”

Rep. Troy Carter, D-La., said he was closely monitoring the response.

“I am devastated to hear about the ships crashing near the Port of New Orleans,” Carter wrote on X. “I am monitoring the situation closely and praying for the swift rescue of survivors and for all emergency crews responding to the situation.”

Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., also offered prayers for passengers and first responders.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“Praying for a successful rescue mission by the dedicated first responders on the scene near the Port of New Orleans, and for the health and safety of all passengers affected,” Letlow wrote on X.

NOLA Ready, the city’s emergency preparedness agency, urged people to avoid the area and allow responders to work.