PHOENIX — An Arizona couple was among hundreds rescued by helicopter after their cruise ship became disabled in rough seas near Norway.
John and Pamela Meyerhoffer of Litchfield Park were among the 1,373 passengers on the Viking Sky cruise ship when it experienced engine trouble Saturday in rough waters west of Norway.
According to their son, Eric, the couple sent sporadic text messages as the ship was drifting.
"They were in life jackets sitting inside a hallway," Eric Meyerhoffer said. "The boat missed the port and that they were struggling and my sister was getting sporadic messages saying '80 mile an hour winds and 40-foot seas.'"
Eric said his parents were eventually rescued off the ship by helicopter in the second round of evacuations. They reached port Sunday.
He said they're being allowed back on the ship to gather their belongings, but the family has not heard directly from them.
Over 475 passengers were rescued from the ship, according to the Associated Press. One person is in critical condition.
Investigators are currently trying to determine why the engines failed. They're also investigating why the captain decided to sail when there was a weather warning issued.