Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht, Launchpad, reportedly failed to respond to a U.S. Coast Guard call for help after a small boat ran out of fuel off the coast of Alaska.
According to Zuckerberg’s spokesperson, the yacht’s crew did not hear the request in time because the Coast Guard call was made on a different radio channel.
Small Boat Runs Out of Fuel
A small skiff ran out of fuel while sailing off Alaska and contacted the U.S. Coast Guard for assistance.
A nearby cruise ship, Wilderness Legacy, responded to the call and towed the stranded boat to Farragut Bay for refuelling.
Why Did Zuckerberg’s Yacht Miss the Call?
Launchpad was reportedly closer to the stranded boat but did not respond to the Coast Guard communication.
Zuckerberg’s spokesperson said the yacht’s crew was monitoring a different radio channel. By the time they checked the Coast Guard message, the cruise ship was already helping the skiff.
The spokesperson also said the Coast Guard determined that the boat was not in distress.
Zuckerberg Was Not Onboard
Mark Zuckerberg was not aboard the yacht when the incident happened, his spokesperson confirmed.
The incident attracted criticism online after passengers aboard the rescue ship learned that Launchpad had been nearby.
Passenger Michael Love later described the incident on Bluesky and said passengers reacted strongly after hearing about it.
Everyone Was Safe
Despite the online criticism, the situation ended safely. The stranded boat was taken to Farragut Bay for fuel, and no injuries were reported.
The incident has also raised attention around maritime rescue rules and the importance of monitoring emergency radio communications.
