SEATTLE — The Coast Guard suspended the active search for a missing female diver in Commencement Bay near Tacoma, Thursday morning.
The search was suspended at about 8:30 a.m., after crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Terrapin and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles conducted first-light searches.
Coast Guard crews from Station Seattle, Air Station Port Angeles and aboard the Terrapin searched more than 540 trackline miles over a period of 25 hours. Personnel from the Navy, Tacoma Police Department and Tacoma Fire and Rescue were also involved in the search. Tacoma Fire and Rescue personnel are still actively searching.
“The decision to suspend a search is difficult and our thoughts are with the missing person and her family at this time,” said Cmdr. Brian Meier, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound.
Tacoma Police Department personnel contacted watchstanders at Sector Puget Sound at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, requesting assistance with the search for a missing 50-year-old female diver.
The Coast Guard suspends a search and rescue case with great care and deliberation. After a probable search area is saturated with maximum number of assets and crew effort, and the person is not located, the decision is made to suspend an active search.
The Coast Guard can resume an active search if credible information is received regarding the missing person’s whereabouts.