Three Indian crew members, including a chief engineer, have been confirmed dead following an attack on the commercial vessel MT Settebello near the Omani coast in the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime authorities and Indian officials.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned the incident and stated that 21 of the 24 Indian crew members onboard were rescued safely. The Indian Embassy in Oman is coordinating closely with local authorities to support rescue operations and assist affected families.
The deceased sailors have been identified as Aditya Sharma (Deck Cadet), Shivanand Chaurasia (Engine Fitter), and Patnala Suresh (Chief Engineer). The victims hailed from Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district, and Andhra Pradesh, respectively.
Forward Seamen Union of India (FSUI) General Secretary Manoj Yadav expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and alleged that US naval forces were fully aware of the nationalities of those onboard the vessel.
“I am 101 percent sure that the US Navy knew exactly how many Indian and foreign nationals were aboard the ship,” Yadav said. He added that if the vessel had failed to comply with instructions, detention would have been a more appropriate response than military action.
According to FSUI, communication with the vessel was severely disrupted following the attack, making it difficult to immediately verify details.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime route for global oil and gas shipments. The attack has raised concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and civilian sailors operating in the region.
The MEA stated that search and rescue efforts continued for the missing crew members before authorities later confirmed their deaths. Indian officials remain in contact with Omani authorities as investigations into the incident proceed.
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