Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his yacht’s crew failed to respond to a distress call from another vessel off the coast of Alaska last week. The incident involved a small skiff running out of fuel and requesting assistance through the U.S. Coast Guard on August 3. The nearby small cruise ship, Wilderness Legacy, ultimately provided help by towing the skiff to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska.

According to maritime law expert Ian Ralby, ships are obligated to aid those in distress at sea, prioritizing human life and safety. Despite being closer to the location, Zuckerberg’s yacht, Launchpad, did not respond to the call for help. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained that the crew did not hear the distress call initially, and by the time they became aware of it, another vessel had already intervened.

The spokesperson further clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in immediate danger, and the assistance was already in progress when the crew learned of the situation. Zuckerberg and his family were reportedly not present on the yacht during the incident.