Stolen million-euro yacht leads to 30-minute sea and air chase from Mallorca to Ibiza

A 52-year-old man from Eastern Europe faces serious charges after making off with a luxury charter boat worth more than €1 million from Port de Soller and then leading Guardia Civil officers on a high-stakes pursuit that ended near Ibiza.

Emergency services took the call on Sunday morning after a charter firm reported its boat missing from the Mallorca harbour. Company tracking data proved decisive. Staff passed the boat’s position to investigators, revealing it was already under way with a man and a woman on board. Officers wasted no time launching a full response.

Dramatic air and sea teams scramble into action

Guardia Civil crews took to the air with a helicopter from their air service plus two boats from the Provincial Maritime Service. Spotters eventually locked onto the craft close to the islet of Tagomago, already in waters near Ibiza. Agents radioed repeated orders for the skipper to cut the engines. However, those instructions fell on deaf ears.

What followed lasted around half an hour and delivered the kind of drama usually reserved for shows like Miami Vice. Patrol boats closed in while the helicopter tracked every move from above. Officers later stated the 52-year-old performed a series of risky evasive turns and even tried to ram their vessels in a bid to break free. Footage released by the force captures the tense exchanges on the water.

Skipper finally gives up near Tagomago

Pressure eventually told. The man stopped attempting to evade police, and the boat was intercepted safely. Officers took him into custody on suspicion of vessel theft, assault against agents of the authority, and disobedience. The investigation continues into the exact circumstances of the theft and the role of the woman who travelled with him.

Port de Soller is on Mallorca’s dramatic north-west coast, a popular spot for yacht charters and day trips along the Tramuntana shoreline. Incidents of this scale remain rare, yet they underline how quickly a simple harbour departure can turn into a major operation once a valuable craft leaves without permission. Similar high-value vessels regularly draw attention in Balearic waters, including recent sightings of ultra-luxury superyachts off the island.

Charges and next steps

Spanish authorities treat theft of a vessel valued at this level as a serious offence, especially when combined with alleged attempts to endanger officers. The suspect remains in custody pending a formal court appearance. Guardia Civil maritime units continue to patrol busy summer routes between Mallorca and Ibiza, where charter traffic and private yachts keep the waters busy throughout the season.

Anyone spotting suspicious activity around ports or at sea is called on to to contact local emergency services on 112. Further updates will follow once more details emerge from the ongoing investigation.