Mark Zuckerberg’s $300m superyacht faces scrutiny after ignoring distress call from stranded vessel in Alaska

Questions have been raised regarding Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg after his $300 million vessel reportedly ignored a call to assist a stranded boat off the coast of south-east Alaska.

The 387-foot luxury yacht, named Launchpad, was positioned closer to the helpless 21-foot skiff than the commercial cruise vessel that ultimately stepped in to provide aid.

According to an eyewitness account shared on Bluesky by a traveler on the Wilderness Legacy (operated by UnCruise Adventures), the captain informed guests that maritime authorities had tried reaching the billionaire’s vessel first.

The passenger noted that their vessel performed the rescue after the US Coast Guard tried contacting Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht, which sat at a shorter distance, and reported that the crew repeatedly ignored the radio broadcasts.

Representatives for Zuckerberg and his partner, Priscilla Chan, have strongly disputed the claim that the crew knowingly ignored a distress signal.

Spokesperson Brian Baker clarified to Forbes that neither Zuckerberg nor Chan were present on Launchpad during the incident. He further stated that the crew was monitoring a different radio frequency at the time and maintained that rescue operations were already under way by the time the message was reviewed.

The small skiff had been left immobilised after running out of fuel while traveling between Petersburg and Juneau.

Zuckerberg, who heads Meta Platforms, has not issued any personal statement concerning the event.