Fewer maritime search and rescue incidents during summer 2026

The Swedish Maritime Administration’s summary of summer rescue operations shows that the number of maritime search and rescue incidents declined this year, following an increase last year. A total of 560 maritime search and rescue incidents were handled during June, July and August 2026, 47 fewer than in summer 2025. Viewed over a longer period, this year’s figure is also significantly below the highest levels recorded over the past decade.

“It is encouraging to see fewer maritime search and rescue incidents this year. At the same time, we know that the need for assistance at sea can arise very quickly. That is why it is important for everyone heading out to sea to wear a life jacket, check weather forecasts and have a way to raise the alarm if something happens,” says Mattias Hyllert, Director of Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue at the Swedish Maritime Administration.

Recreational boats remain the most frequently involved

Motorboats and sailing boats were the most common types of vessels involved in maritime search and rescue incidents. Engine and propeller failures were the most common causes, followed by groundings and situations involving severe weather or hazardous conditions. The statistics also show that multiple causes may be recorded for the same incident.

Most incidents in Västra Götaland and Stockholm

Västra Götaland recorded the highest number of maritime search and rescue incidents during the summer, with 161 cases, followed by Stockholm with 127 and Skåne with 54. In Västra Götaland, the number was slightly above the average for the summers of 2023–2025, while Stockholm and Skåne recorded slightly lower figures.

Increase in aeronautical search and rescue incidents during the summer

The trend in aeronautical search and rescue was the opposite. During June–August 2026, a total of 284 aeronautical search and rescue incidents were handled, compared with 227 during the same period in 2025. This represents an increase of 57 incidents, or approximately 25 percent. This year's figure is also the highest recorded during the ten-year period covered by the report, 2017–2026.

“We are seeing a clear increase in the number of aeronautical search and rescue incidents compared with last summer. However, more incidents do not necessarily mean that more serious accidents have occurred. A large proportion involve situations where we need to take action because there is uncertainty about the status of an aircraft. We take every alert extremely seriously,” says Mattias Hyllert.

In terms of flight operations, general aviation, including aerial work, accounted for the largest category. The most common cause of aeronautical search and rescue incidents was a failure to close a flight plan, meaning that the pilot had not notified the relevant authorities that the aircraft had landed, accounting for 179 incidents.