The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for an 18 year old sailor who has been missing since Monday, reports Radio New Zealand.
The American Samoan fisherman missing since Sunday after falling overboard in rough seas has been identified as 18-year-old Vaitui Auna’i of Pavaiai.
He was born in American Samoa and has made eight trips on the Sivaimoana, a boat owned by local company, Tuna Ventures.
Watchstanders in Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu were notified Sunday that the master of the U.S.-flagged fishing vessel Siva Moana fell overboard while recovering fishing gear. He was not wearing a lifejacket. A Royal New Zelaland Air Force P-3 Orion search plane was launched to begin a search as the Coast Guard prepared to launch.
A Coast Guard aircrew piloting an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Barbers Point was launched Sunday to assist in the search. The Hercules aircrew relieved the crew of the P-3 and searched Sunday. The Hercules crew completed a search with no sign of the mariner before landing in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The aircrew conducted another search Monday.
The Coast guard has also begun interviewing the captain and crew of the 70 foot long boat as part of an investigation into what happened.