The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for 11 people who remain missing two days after a boat with an estimated 27 people capsized off Baja California. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 16 people were rescued when the incident happened on Friday, October 16; however, some sustained serious injuries, including those that were consistent with shark bites.
The U.S. Coast Guard shared in a statement that it received a distress broadcast “at approximately 1 a.m. Friday, reporting a vessel taking on water with 27 people reported aboard.” The vessel had capsized 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico, with the 16 who were rescued all Mexican nationals, and the boat was on “a route normally used in illegal maritime smuggling operations,” although the location is also popular with fishing.
U.S. Coast Guard Halts Search For 11 Missing People After Searching More Than 2,441 Square Miles
The U.S. Coast Guard ended its search for 11 people who remain missing after a vessel capsized off the coast of Baja California, having departed from Mexico, per the Associated Press. The USCG shared in a statement that “the Coast Guard, alongside Mexico and the U.S. Navy, searched more than 2,441 square miles for a combined 89 hours” for the missing before suspending rescue efforts on Sunday, October 18.
Agencies involved in the search included the Coast Guard Southwest District, Coast Guard Sector San Diego, Coast Guard Air Station Ventura, and a U.S. Navy helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23.
“We are grateful for the exceptional coordination and assistance from Mexico and the U.S. Navy throughout this challenging operation,” Capt. Joseph Meuse, chief of staff, Coast Guard Southwest District said. “Suspending a search is never easy, and this was an exceptionally dynamic case, far offshore, in rough weather.”
He continued, “We can say with confidence that human traffickers have zero regard for human life and routinely put the lives of illegal aliens and the lives of rescue crews at risk.”
According to CBC News, rescuing the 16 people took 90 minutes with Lt. Santiago Tamburini, with the USCG telling the outlet, “People were holding onto each other, to debris, just treading and trying to stay above water before being rescued.”
“Boats in that area can be for fishing, leisure, personal recreation. We just don’t know what they were doing out there. We all know it’s a suspected smuggling route,” he added.
The incident remains under federal investigation, with AP reporting that the area has seen “fatal attempts to transport migrants from Mexico to the U.S.”
Several Vessels Have Capsized En Route to California From Mexico
Dangerous boat crossings have become a recurring risk for migrants trying to reach the United States. In May 2025, at least three people were killed when a small boat capsized off the coast of Mexico, approximately 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to CBC News.
A similar tragedy occurred in 2023, when eight people died after two boats suspected of being involved in migrant smuggling approached a San Diego beach amid heavy fog. One of the vessels capsized in the surf, highlighting the dangers of attempting to reach the U.S. by sea.
Coast Guard Suspends Search for 11 Missing People After Survivors Suffer Suspected Shark Bites