Indian sailor among five killed, another injured as Somali forces recapture hijacked tanker
Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos
An Indian sailor was among five crew members killed by pirates aboard a hijacked tanker in Somalia, authorities said, as the African nation’s security forces regained control of the vessel.
The Puntland Maritime Police (PMPF) said three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national were killed early Tuesday (September 30, 2026) before its forces launched an operation to secure the MT Honor 25 tanker sailing under Palau, Somalia Today news portal reported.
Three Pakistani crew members and one Indian national were also injured.
Puntland is a semi-autonomous state of Somalia.
The PMPF blamed the death on Somali pirates holding a vessel off the coast of Puntland, but did not provide details on how or when the crew members were killed.
According to the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), the vessel was hijacked in April while en route to the Somali capital Mogadishu. On board were about 17 crew members, mostly Pakistani nationals, and a cargo of petroleum products.
According to BBC Somali, the crew consisted of 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one Myanmar national.
In a social media post on Tuesday, the PMPF said it “conducted a naval operation off the coast of Dharin-baar, Bandar Beyla District, successfully rescued the oil tanker MT Honor 25 which was hijacked by pirates”.
The vessel is now safe and under the control of the Puntland government, it said, adding that 16 suspected piracy suspects were detained during the operation, while operations to find the remaining members continue.
Citing authorities, The Daily Somali news website reported that the pirates initially offered to surrender while concealing the crew’s death.
A commercial ship carrying 18,500 barrels of fuel bound for Mogadishu was hijacked by pirates on April 21, 2026, the company said.
In another development, Somali pirates on Tuesday launched a Togolese-flagged tanker after intercepting it off the Puntland region of Karkaar, a report said.
About 30 armed pirates disembarked and handed over all 12 crew members, consisting of eight Egyptians and four Indians, without harm to the local community, she said, adding that the pirates damaged the vessel MT Eureka and set fire to parts of it before escaping.
“The tanker was hijacked on May 2, 2026 off the Yemeni port of Qana while carrying 20,400 barrels of fuel, with a significant amount of cargo pumped out and sold at sea during the months of captivity. Crew members are now in the care of local residents in the Hul-Aanood area,” the report said.
Published – 30 Sep 2026 14:47 IST