SANDY HOOK — The initial report that was phoned in to the U.S. Coast Guard sounded chilling: A large boat had exploded off the coast of Sandy Hook, injuring several people and sending about two dozen passengers scrambling onto life rafts.
That was at 4:20 p.m. today. But now, more than four hours later, questions are being raised about whether the explosion report was real, misinterpreted or, perhaps, an elaborate hoax.
"The investigation has begun into whether or not this was a hoax," Coast Guard spokesman Erik Swanson said tonight. "The search has been suspended pending further information that leads us to believe there is a real emergency."
Coast Guard Lt. Joe Klinker said a caller had reported a yacht named the Blind Date was 17 nautical miles east of Sandy Hook and had 21 people aboard, with several people injured.
Klinker says it's "highly unusual" for the Coast Guard to get this kind of position and get there quickly but not locate anything or see any sign of distress. He says it's unclear if a yacht called the Blind Date exists.
Max Ross, an emergency medical technician from Rumson, said all rescue workers who had gathered at a staging area in the Gateway National Recreation Area had been released as of 7:30 p.m., except for crews from Sea Bright and Highlands.
View full size"At this time, it's unfounded," Ross said of the explosion report. "They're still treating it as if it's real, but they haven't found anything."
Both the New Jersey State Police and the NYPD also have recalled their personnel, according to spokespeople for each agency.
Earlier this evening, after the Coast Guard said it had received a report of a yacht explosion off the coast of Sandy Hook, a massive search and rescue operation was mobilized, involving dozens of local, state and federal agencies.
After searching the ocean for more than two hours, the Coast Guard said it did not find any debris, any lifeboats or any victims. No law enforcement agencies have reported receiving calls from any families with missing relatives.
The New Jersey State Police and NYPD would not respond to questions about whether the explosion report was a hoax.
Earlier today, the Coast Guard asked the Gateway National Recreation Area help arrange transportation for nine injured boat passengers, according to Gateway National Recreation Area spokesman John Warren.
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No authorities confirmed the extent of the injuries, but some television stations were reporting nine people with serious burns.
Three Coast Guard helicopters, three 47-foot motor life boats, three New York Police Department helicopters and a Nassau County helicopter were dispatched to the scene, along with scores of ambulances from Monmouth County rescue squads. Two good Samaritan boats in the area of the accident were also assisting, a Coast Guard spokesman said.
This case is now being investigated as a possible hoax call, the Coast Guard announced late tonight. The agency said it offers a reward of up to $1,000 "for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone responsible for making a false distress or hoax call to the U.S. Coast Guard."
Making a false distress call is a federal felony with a maximum penalty of five to 10 years in prison, the Coast Guard added, along with a $250,000 fine and reimbursement to the Coast Guard for the cost of performing the search.
Star-Ledger staff writers Tomas Dinges, Tom Haydon, Len Melisurgo and James Queally contributed to this report, along with The Associated Press.
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