Mass brawl breaks out on cruise ship dance floor

A mass brawl has broken out on a cruise ship heading into New York, but there is doubt as to whether anybody can be charged.

The all-in brawl broke out on the dancefloor of a nightclub of the Carnival Magic cruise ship in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

At the moment of the brawl, the ship was heading back to New York, but the exact location of the vessel will have a bearing on a criminal investigation.

If it took place when the ship was closest to New York, then the NYPD has jurisdiction. But it is also possible it will be the responsibility of New Jersey law enforcement.

But if it took place in international waters, it is possible everybody involved will get away scot-free.

The NYPD has confirmed security on-board were unable to contain the fight and had to summon the Coast Guard.

“Security onboard the boat attempted to de-escalate the situation and subsequently called for the Coast Guard,” the police said in a statement issued to People.

“The Coast Guard escorted the cruise ship to Pier 88, confines of the MTN Precinct. Uniformed personnel and Traffic Agents met the ship and the ship disembarked passengers without further incident”.

Eyewitness passenger Theresa James told Fox News the fight began over a “threesome”.

She said the fight lasted for an hour and stretched from the fifth floor to the first floor.

Up to 60 people were involved in the brawl.

Carnival described the brawl as an “altercation”.

“Last night while Carnival Magic was returning to New York, a number of guests were involved in an altercation in a nightclub,” the cruise company said. 

“Thankfully no serious injuries were reported and our onboard security team intervened.”

The brawl came at the end of an eight-day voyage, which went into various islands in the West Indies before heading back up the US east coast.