“Miracle on the Mississippi”: Everyone Rescued After Tanker Hits New Orleans Cruise Ship and It Capsizes

Updated 14 Nov 2026, 07:16 · First published 14 Nov 2026

Everyone on board a river cruise ship in New Orleans has been accounted for after it was struck by a tanker on the Mississippi River and capsized, in what officials are calling a “miracle on the Mississippi”. Around 180 to 190 people were on the American Heritage when the tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit it at the Port of New Orleans on Friday afternoon, and 32 people were taken to hospital with non-critical injuries.

What happened?

The American Heritage, a paddlewheel river cruise boat operated by American Cruise Lines, had docked about two hours earlier when the much larger tanker crashed into it. Passengers had started getting off when the riverboat began to take on water, toppled over and flipped. Those still on board were pulled to safety by a fleet of boats, with some people seen in the river in life jackets.

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Two harbour police officers who went into the water during the rescue were among those taken to hospital. Officials said no children were involved.

“A miracle on the Mississippi”

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno praised the emergency response: “We have zero people unaccounted for, which is a miracle.” Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who travelled to the city, called it “a literal miracle on the Mississippi”.

What caused the crash?

It is not yet known. Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said investigators were looking at an apparent loss of steering on the tanker. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team, and a stretch of the river between mile markers 93 and 96 has been closed to all traffic while the Coast Guard assesses when it can reopen.

Sources: City of New Orleans; Office of the Governor of Louisiana; US Coast Guard; Port of New Orleans; American Cruise Lines.