A maritime incident occurred off Mexico’s Baja California coast on Friday when a vessel carrying 27 people capsized, resulting in a rescue operation that saved 16 individuals and left 11 others unaccounted for. Multiple rescue agencies responded to a Mayday distress call transmitted around 1am, with a rescue helicopter arriving approximately two hours after the initial alert. The recovery operation took roughly 90 minutes to extract the survivors from the water, during which a rescue swimmer assisted in the effort.
According to the US Coast Guard, several of the rescued individuals sustained severe injuries consistent with shark bites. These survivors received emergency medical treatment aboard rescue vessels en route to San Diego. The exact nature of the incident and circumstances leading to the capsizing remained under investigation as search operations continued.
The boat sank approximately 225 kilometers west of Ensenada, Mexico, in an area known to attract both recreational fishing and leisure activities as well as smuggling operations. Despite the incident occurring outside US territorial waters, the Coast Guard deployed multiple aircraft and boats to the search zone. The Mexican Navy also contributed resources to assist in locating the missing passengers. An additional helicopter was scheduled for deployment to expand search coverage.
Maritime incidents in the region have resulted in casualties in the past. In May 2025, a similar boat incident off the coast resulted in at least three fatalities. Additionally, 2023 saw one of the deadliest maritime smuggling accidents along the US coast when two boats encountered heavy fog near San Diego, resulting in a capsizing and eight deaths. These historical incidents underscore the dangers associated with sea transport operations in the region.
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