Drone strike on Oman-anchored tanker leaves two Indian crew members missing
A drone hit the tanker MT Petro Dolphin at Sohar Anchorage in Oman, rescuing nine Indian sailors while two remain missing, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
On Oct 11, a drone struck the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin at Sohar Anchorage in Oman, where it was carrying 11 Indian seafarers. Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced that nine crew members were rescued and are safe, while two remain missing as the Omani Coast Guard continues search-and-rescue operations. The Indian Embassy in Muscat confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the relevant authorities.
This incident follows a projectile attack on the Panama-flagged vessel MT On Peace in the Strait of Hormuz on Oct 6, which injured 12 crew members, most of them Indians. India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the earlier attack and warned that repeated targeting of commercial shipping threatens regional trade. Officials stressed the need to halt such assaults and restore safe navigation through international waterways.
Why it matters
The attack highlights growing threats to commercial shipping in the Gulf region, affecting crew safety and global trade routes.
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