Alaska (GNP): Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has faced public scrutiny after his 387-foot superyacht reportedly declined to assist a stranded skiff off the coast of southeast Alaska, despite being positioned closer to the vessel than the cruise ship that ultimately carried out the rescue.
The incident occurred when a 21-foot skiff ran out of fuel while travelling between Petersburg and Juneau. According to reports, the Coast Guard had radioed Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad and valued at approximately 300 million dollars, but received no response despite repeated attempts to make contact. A nearby small cruise ship, which was further from the stranded boat, ultimately carried out the rescue instead.
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A passenger aboard the rescuing vessel described the incident publicly, noting that the rescue took place after the yacht failed to respond to multiple radio calls, and said the announcement was met with strong reaction from fellow passengers once the captain explained the circumstances.
Responding to the reports, a spokesperson for Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, confirmed that neither was aboard the yacht at the time of the incident.
The spokesperson said the yacht’s crew had been operating on a different radio channel during the initial distress call and that by the time the broadcast was reviewed, the rescue was already underway.
Despite the clarification regarding Zuckerberg’s absence from the vessel, the incident has added to existing public criticism surrounding the billionaire, who has previously faced scrutiny over the broader societal impact of his social media platforms, his evolving political relationships, and his lifestyle choices.
Local residents in the Juneau area, where the yacht has reportedly been docked, also voiced frustration over its continued presence in the region following the incident.
