Israeli Passenger Dies Aboard Crown Iris Cruise Following False Bomb Scare

The funeral of Noach Novitzky, a resident of Nesher in his seventies who died aboard the Crown Iris cruise ship following a security scare on the Greek island of Syros, is taking place on Friday in Nesher.

Friends from the local Rotary club, where Novitzky was an active member, recounted that he was deeply distressed by reports of a suspected bomb on the vessel. Passengers were evacuated mid-dinner and gathered inside a pier building amid strong winds and cold weather. While some were given blankets, others headed into the town. After a four-hour sweep by security forces, the threat was determined to be a false alarm, and passengers were allowed back on board.

Novitzky's friends shared that his final message to them was, "Thank you everyone, it will be fine, in the end everything will work out." Later, after returning to the ship, he felt unwell, consulted the onboard physician, was examined, and returned to his cabin. He was found lifeless the following morning. The ship returned to Haifa, and his funeral is being held today. Alon Barnea, Governor of Rotary Israel, and Yona Mazor, Secretary, expressed their condolences to his widow, Rivka, who is also a member of the Nesher Rotary club.

Mano Maritime, the owner of the Crown Iris, stated that a passenger passed away on Wednesday as the ship made its way back to Haifa. The ship's doctor pronounced him dead after resuscitation efforts failed. The company noted that the passenger was an elderly individual with significant medical history and that the crew accompanied his widow until their arrival in Israel. Mano Maritime extended its deepest condolences to the grieving family.