An attack on an India-flagged cargo vessel off Oman’s coast has left one Indian sailor dead. The remaining 13 crew members escaped safely after the Omani Coast Guard rescued them.
Indian authorities said an “unidentified aerial object” struck the vessel, identified as MSV Al Jusufi. The tanker was carrying 14 Indian seafarers when the incident occurred.
India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the death of crew member Gandhar Nahim Ajij, who came from Gujarat.
“While 13 crew members safely evacuated and were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard, I am deeply saddened to report that one of our seafarers, Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat, tragically succumbed to his injuries,” Sonowal said in a statement on social media.
Indian Sailor Killed as Vessel Comes Under Attack
The incident adds to growing concerns about the safety of commercial shipping routes in the region. India supplies a significant number of sailors to the global merchant shipping industry.
According to India’s shipping ministry, more than 320,000 Indian seafarers were actively working in the industry during 2025.
Several Indian mariners have also died in attacks around the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28.
Meanwhile, India’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly condemned attacks on commercial vessels. It has called for safe and uninterrupted navigation through international waters.
Indian Navy Rescues 20 Crew Members From Hijacked Iranian Vessel
In a separate maritime operation, Indian naval commandos rescued 20 crew members from a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel off Somalia.
The Indian Navy said its commandos parachuted onto the vessel, named Azini, to overcome the pirate threat and secure the crew.
Armed pirates had seized the fishing vessel on October 29 off Somalia’s coast. The incident occurred between Bandar Beyla and Xaafun, in Puntland’s semi-autonomous region.
An alert from the European Union’s Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean reported the seizure. The Indian Navy also warned that pirates could use the vessel as a “mother ship” for further attacks on merchant shipping.
Navy Tracks Vessel Before Launching Rescue Operation
The Indian Navy deployed a warship and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft to track the hijacked vessel. After locating it, naval commandos parachuted onto the boat and carried out the rescue.
“The Indian Navy secured the vessel, overcame the pirate threat and ensured safe release of all 20 crew members,” the navy said.
The operation followed a series of hijackings involving Iranian fishing boats off Somalia. Azini became the third Iranian fishing vessel seized in the area since July.
Maritime Security Concerns Grow in Regional Waters
The two incidents highlight separate security challenges facing commercial and fishing vessels across important regional waters.
The attack off Oman resulted in the death of an Indian sailor, while the operation near Somalia ended with all 20 hostages rescued.
Meanwhile, piracy has shown signs of renewed activity off Somalia. At least 15 attacks have been reported since April, marking the highest number since 2013.
The incidents have renewed attention on the safety of seafarers and the protection of vessels operating along major international shipping routes.
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