Horrifying video shows American Heritage cruise ship passengers hanging on for life after tanker crashed into them ‣ Diverse Daily

By LAURA PARNABY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Updated: 22:35 GMT, 13 November 2026

A tanker has struck a river cruise boat carrying 129 passengers close to New Orleans, officials have said.

Horrifying footage shows the cruise ship partially submerged in the Mississippi River, and it is unclear yet whether there have been any deaths or injuries.

Another video from the scene showed the much larger Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the paddlewheel cruise boat operated by American Cruise Lines while it appeared to be docked.

People were seen in the river in life jackets or standing near the railing as the other side of the American Heritage liner listed further into the water.

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WATCH: Passengers clamber over boat rails to get to safety as ship sinks

All passengers have been accounted for after collision

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno held a press conference on Friday afternoon and confirmed that everyone who was on the cruise ship struck by a tanker have been accounted for.

A total of 32 people have been hospitalized as a result of the incident.

See the jaw-dropping moment tanker collides into docked riverboat

Congressman says FAA groundstop is impacting search and rescue efforts

Congressman Troy Carter said that the FAA groundstop is currently impacting NTSB’s search and rescue efforts on the collision scene.

This afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a nationwide ground stop on all US flights due to ‘extraordinary circumstances.’

According to reports, an unusual radio frequency outage has hit multiple high-traffic areas which has triggered the ground stops at all airports.

The Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) said at 3.54pm ET that the reason for the immediate halting of US flights was: ‘Due to extraordinary circumstances for safety reasons.’

Louisiana Senator John N. Kennedy issues statement

Kennedy issued a statement after Friday afternoon’s horrifying scenes.

‘Becky and I are praying for everyone involved in the terrible ship collision in New Orleans,’ the statement read.

‘We’re grateful for the brave first responders working to rescue those in anger and praying everyone makes it home safely.’

epa12156070 US Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana, after a meeting of Republican senators discussing President Trumps tax and spending billÂ at the US Capitol, Washington, DC, USA, 04 June 2025. EPA/WILL OLIVER

American Heritage passengers are seen floating in river in lifejackets after collision

Press conference about sinking ship delayed

A press conference which had been scheduled for 4.30pm ET has been delayed while officials attempt to clarify the number of people who have been rescued, versus how many still remain on the ship.

It is unclear when the next official update will be.

Horrifying video of ship sinking made Lieutenant Governor ‘fear the worst’ for elderly passengers

‘The thing that really worried me from the first minute I heard this, I’ve met many of these cruise lines as the visitors would get off, and most of them are very elderly, some in wheelchairs or in walkers,’ Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser told Atlanta News First.

‘So when you see the boat list that quickly, you really fear the worst because of the ability of those people to get off the boat.’

He added that the cruise ship had only just set off from the port in New Orleans when disaster struck.

‘This one was leaving New Orleans, going to Baton Rouge, Natchez Mississippi, Vicksburg, St Branchville, and then returning to New Orleans,’ Nungesser said.

Shocking moment riverboat topples into Mississippi river

Riverboat operator says its ‘deeply concerned’ for all involved in accident

American Cruise Lines, the New Orleans riverboat operator, said in a statement:

We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved

The New Orleans Fire Department, New Orleans Police Department and US Coast Guard are all on the scene conducting search and rescue operations.

Cruise ship involved in the crash has been operating for nine years

The cruise ship was built in 2015 and operated by American Cruise Lines. It is five stories and can hold up to 150 passengers.

The American Heritage was finishing an eight-day cruise to several Mississippi River destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Emergency responders and crews are on the scene after a tanker crashed into a river cruise in New Orleans, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (Enan Chediak/The Advocate via AP)

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