An Inside Account of the JFK Jr. Search that Gripped the Nation

At once a pulse-pounding account and a deeply moving tribute, this is the definitive story of the mission that forever changed the Coast Guard—and a nation still captivated by the legacy of the Kennedy family.

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The last flight

The Untold Story of THE SEARCH FOR JFK JR. and the Race Against the Atlantic

On a hazy July night in 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren vanished over the waters off Martha’s Vineyard—triggering a national vigil and one of the most ambitious search operations in American history. For days, the world watched and waited.

But the full story of what happened after the crash has never been told—until now.

In The Last Flight, Captain W. Russell “Russ” Webster, the Coast Guard commander who led the search, and historian Theresa Mitchell Webster, take readers inside the high-stakes, emotionally charged mission to locate the missing aircraft and recover its passengers. Drawing on firsthand accounts, official reports, and newly uncovered insights, this gripping narrative reveals the unprecedented coordination between the Coast Guard, Navy, and NOAA in a race against time, technology, and the unforgiving sea.

Beyond the headlines lies a powerful human story—of exhausted rescuers, clashing agencies, political pressure, and quiet acts of heroism. From sonar operators and Navy divers to commanders navigating impossible decisions, each played a role in what became the largest and most expensive search ever for private citizens in a small airplane.

Blending narrative history with investigative depth, The Last Flight also explores unanswered questions surrounding the crash, offering a compelling new perspective on one of America’s most haunting tragedies.

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About the Authors

Captain W. Russell “Russ” Webster served as Incident Commander for Search Operations in the JFK Jr. case. Webster served in the Coast Guard for twenty-six years (from 1977 to 2003) where he was engaged in or oversaw more than 10,000 search and rescue cases. He was his service’s Chief of Operations for the Northeast District and the 9/11 attacks and was part of a team that developed the service’s anti-terrorist doctrine. Later, Webster acted in senior positions within the Transportation Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He was the FEMA Region 1 (Northeast) Administrator during the COVID-19 Pandemic. And was recognized by the Department of Homeland Security with the Secretary’s Outstanding Performance Award in 2021. A graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and its 2017 Distinguished Alumni, Webster holds masters degrees from the Naval War College and the Naval Postgraduate School. He continues to advise his former service on cutting-edge rescue insights related to watch standers’ decision-making and human behavior. Captain Webster has appeared on television and radio programs as part of his responsibilities as a senior official across three government agencies (Coast Guard, TSA, and FEMA,) and is active in producing articles for the U.S. Naval Institute Press.

Historian Theresa M. Webster is an author of maritime and cultural history, nature, science, and true crime books. Titles include Cape Cod Bay: A History of Salt & Sea and Nantucket Sound: A Maritime History. Her career began as a television news reporter and anchor in Indiana, and later, in radio news in Boston. Theresa pivoted to print in her 30s where she served as the history newsmagazine editor for the award-winning The Cape Cod Voice which ceased publication in 2008. She’s been honored twice by the Coast Guard for her work in that service’s history. She holds graduate degrees from UMass Dartmouth, Yale University, and Eastern Washington University.