Indian sailor among five killed, another injured as Somali forces retake hijacked tanker
Somali security forces successfully retook a hijacked fuel tanker, but five crew members, including one Indian, were killed during the operation. Sixteen pirates were apprehended, and the vessel is now under government control.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the persistent threat of piracy in the Horn of Africa and the risks faced by international maritime workers.
An Indian sailor was among five crew members killed by pirates aboard a hijacked fuel tanker in Somalia, authorities said, as security forces of the African nation retook control of the vessel.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) said three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national were killed early on Tuesday (September 30, 2026), before its forces launched an operation to secure the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour 25, news portal Somalia Today reported.
Three Pakistani crew members and one Indian national were also wounded, it said.
Puntland is a semi-autonomous state of Somalia.
PMPF blamed the deaths on the Somali pirates holding the vessel off the coast of Puntland but did not provide details on how or when the crew members were killed.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in