Zuckerberg's Superyacht Ignored a Distress Call Off Alaska

Off the coast of Alaska, a yacht belonging to Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg failed to respond to a distress call from a vessel that had run out of fuel. The incident took place on the route between Petersburg and Juneau, and it was ultimately the crew of another, more distant tour boat that came to the rescue.

According to the US Coast Guard, the distress signal was received around 9:30 p.m. local time on Monday. Coast Guard spokesperson Shannon Shepard said that by around 9:56 p.m. it became clear there was no life-threatening emergency, and a call for maritime assistance was relayed on behalf of the stricken vessel to other ships in the area.

Cruise passengers react with anger

The story came to light thanks to a passenger aboard the UnCruise Adventures cruise ship Wilderness Legacy. Michael Love, who was sailing near Alaska with his son at the time, said their ship rescued the stranded vessel overnight — apparently only after the Coast Guard made several unsuccessful attempts to reach Mark Zuckerberg's nearby yacht by radio.

Love noted that when the ship's captain informed passengers of what had happened, the news was met with an audible wave of discontent.

Zuckerberg's spokesperson: he wasn't on board

Brian Baker, spokesperson for Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, said the billionaire was not aboard the yacht at the time of the incident, and that crew members had been communicating on a different radio channel. According to him, by the time the crew picked up the Coast Guard's call on another frequency, the rescue operation was already well underway.

Zuckerberg has faced mounting criticism of late — over the societal influence of his social media platforms, his growing closeness with US President Donald Trump, and his increasingly conspicuous yet guarded lifestyle.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz