Zuckerberg’s $300M superyacht ignored distress calls as cruise ship rescued stranded boat

Mark Zuckerberg’s 387-foot, $300 million superyacht Launchpad was closer to a stranded 21-foot skiff in Alaska but repeatedly refused to respond to distress calls, while a smaller cruise ship rescued the boat and its crew earlier this week. The incident, confirmed by tracking data and passenger accounts, has drawn sharp criticism of the Meta CEO’s yacht crew.

The skiff ran out of fuel between Petersburg and Juneau, Alaska, and issued a distress call. According to AIS tracking data reviewed by the Alaska Beacon and Halifax Shipping News, Launchpad was the nearest vessel to the stranded boat in Farragut Bay, near the entrance to the bay. However, the yacht did not assist. Instead, the Alaskan cruise ship Wilderness Legacy, operated by UnCruise Adventures, carried out the rescue.

Michael Love, a passenger on the Wilderness Legacy, posted on Bluesky that the ship’s captain announced Launchpad had ignored repeated calls for help. The revelation was met with booing from passengers on the cruise ship. Love described the scene as the captain shared the news, noting the frustration among those onboard.

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, confirmed Zuckerberg was not on the yacht at the time. Brian Baker, the spokesperson, stated the yacht crew was operating on a different radio channel and only reviewed the distress call after the rescue was already underway. Baker did not address why the crew failed to respond initially.

The Launchpad, one of the largest private yachts in the world, has been a frequent subject of public fascination—and controversy—due to its size and cost. The incident comes as Zuckerberg faces ongoing scrutiny over his lavish lifestyle, his role at Meta, and his public image, including recent criticism of his social media platforms’ societal impact and his interactions with political figures like Donald Trump.

Public reaction The story has sparked outrage online, with many users on social media platforms criticizing the yacht crew’s inaction. A Reddit user from Juneau called the yacht an “excessive eyesore” and expressed frustration over its presence in local waters. Others questioned the ethics of ignoring a distress call, regardless of the crew’s stated reasons.

What the facts show Tracking data and passenger accounts confirm Launchpad was closer to the stranded skiff but did not respond. The Wilderness Legacy’s crew, despite being farther away, stepped in to assist. While Zuckerberg was not onboard, the incident has reignited debates about wealth, privilege, and responsibility at sea—and on land.