Zuckerberg’s Yacht Captain Refused Distress Calls, Passengers Claim
Spokesperson for Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan says crew was unaware of the situation until after the rescue began
The Alaskan cruise ship Wilderness Legacy rescued a skiff that had run out of fuel near Farragut Bay earlier this week, despite automatic identification system (AIS) tracking data indicating that Mark Zuckerberg’s super yacht, Launchpad, was the closest vessel to the stranded boat. The incident has drawn scrutiny after passengers reported that the captain of the Launchpad repeatedly refused to respond to distress calls.
According to tracking data reviewed by the Alaska Beacon and Halifax Shipping News, the Launchpad was positioned closer to the distressed skiff than the Wilderness Legacy. AIS records show the super yacht stopped near the entrance of the bay, while the Wilderness Legacy passed the Launchpad, turned around, and towed the stranded vessel to safety. Michael Love, a passenger on the Wilderness Legacy, posted on Bluesky that the captain of the cruise ship announced the Launchpad was closer but had repeatedly refused to respond, a statement that was met with booing from passengers.
The US Coast Guard had previously assessed the situation, with Public Affairs Specialist Shannon Shepard telling the Alaska Beacon that the agency determined the skiff was not in distress at approximately 9:56 p.m. Instead, the Coast Guard issued a marine assistance request broadcast on behalf of the stranded vessel. Neither the Coast Guard nor the Marine Exchange of Alaska immediately responded to requests for further comment regarding the communication protocols involved.
Brian Baker, a spokesperson for Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, confirmed to The Verge that the billionaire and his family were not on board the Launchpad at the time of the incident. Baker stated that the crew reviewed the Coast Guard contact on a different radio channel from the one they were operating on, and that the assist was already underway by the time they became aware of the situation.
“We’re grateful all parties are safe,” Baker said, adding that the Coast Guard had noted the boat was not in distress. The spokesperson’s account conflicts with the passengers’ reports of a deliberate refusal to respond, leaving the exact reasons for the Launchpad’s inaction unconfirmed.
