L: A ‘Carnival Dream’ lifeboat after it broke off and fell into the water; R: The broken piece of the lifeboat. Credit : Jennifer Landers
If this happened while the lifeboat was full of panicky pax that would have been a catastrophe.
Did someone accidently activate quick release on one end only?
Source: Lifeboat Snaps Off Carnival Cruise Line Ship and Plummets into Sea
Video: (00 - 2:26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILU2scrQ1w