Cruise NewsNorwegian Cruise LineCruise Ship Crew Member Arrested After Allegedly Stabbing 3 People with Scissors

Cruise Ship Crew Member Arrested After Allegedly Stabbing 3 People with Scissors

A Norwegian Cruise Line crew member was arrested in Juneau, Alaska on Tuesday, after allegedly stabbing three people while on the ship, Norwegian Encore.

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Norwegian Encore docked in port
Photo Credit: Cruise Fever

According to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Matthew Judy, the man stabbed two security guards and a woman with a pair of scissors.

The incident occurred late on Sunday night when other crew members spotted the man trying to deploy a lifeboat on the ship.

After this erratic behavior, the security guards attempted to bring the man to the medical center so he could be evaluated.

It was while he was in the medical center and the ship was at sea, sailing off the coast of Canada, that the man tried to leave the medical facility.

He allegedly attacked a guard and a male nurse before running to another room and grabbing scissors, which he used as a weapon. The affidavit states he stabbed a woman in the medical facility who was being examined, in addition to two guards who were trying to detain him.

The woman was stabbed several times in the arm, hand and face. The security guards sustained stab wounds to the head, back, and shoulders.

The injuries sustained are reportedly non-life threatening.

According to reports, Ntando Sogoni, a 35-year-old South African, had just started his new job on the cruise line and boarded the ship in Seattle over the weekend.

Sogoni was arrested while Norwegian Encore was visiting Juneau, Alaska.  Before his arrest he was detained on the ship in what is known as “cruise jail”.

Sogoni is charged with “assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction,” according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Alaska.

If he is convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to CruiseMapper, Norwegian Encore is currently on a 7-day round-trip sailing out of Seattle.

Before a crew member is hired, cruise lines conduct thorough background checks that include criminal records, employment history, and various references.

Most cruise lines require that any crew member working with children undergo a background check at least every two years.

Additionally, after hiring, the crew undergo training to get them ready for their job on the ship.

This was an extremely rare and isolated incident, and Norwegian Encore, according to latest updates, is able to continue with the planned itinerary without any changes.

The cause of this man’s actions are not clear, but this article will be updated as more is known.

The FBI and Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the case.

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J. Souza
J. Souza
Jon is the co-founder of Cruise Fever and has been on 50+ cruises since his first in 2009. As an editor, 15-year writer on the cruise industry, and avid cruise enthusiast he has sailed with at least 10 cruise lines and is always looking for a great cruise deal. Jon lives in North Carolina and can be reached at [email protected].
Cruise NewsNorwegian Cruise LineCruise Ship Crew Member Arrested After Allegedly Stabbing 3 People with Scissors
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