Drone attack on tanker near Oman leaves two Indian sailors missing
The MT Petro Dolphin tanker, flagged by Nicaragua, was attacked.
Two Indian sailors are missing following a drone attack on the oil tanker MT Petro Dolphin near the Sohar port off the coast of Oman. Nine other Indian crew members on board have been safely rescued. This information was provided by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. He stated that the local Coast Guard is conducting a search and rescue operation for the missing Indians. The Government of India is in continuous contact with the relevant authorities.
According to Sonowal, the attack occurred on October 11. At that time, a total of 11 Indian sailors were on board MT Petro Dolphin. He mentioned on the social media platform X that nine Indians have been successfully rescued and are safe, but two Indian nationals are still unaccounted for. He said that every possible effort is being made to locate the missing sailors safely, and full support is being provided to the ongoing rescue operation.
The Union Minister wrote in his post that,
The local Coast Guard is actively engaged in the search and rescue operation. India is continuously coordinating with all relevant authorities to ensure full support for the rescue efforts. His statement prioritizes the safe recovery of the missing Indians. However, no additional details regarding the identity of the two sailors have been shared.
The Indian Embassy in Oman has also taken note of the incident.
The embassy stated that,
It is closely monitoring the situation related to the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin. In a message posted on X, the embassy said it is in continuous contact with the relevant authorities. Coordination is being done with local authorities and parties involved in ship management to assist in the search for the missing Indians and provide support to the crew.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned the attacks on commercial vessels in the Hormuz region on October 11, 2026. The ministry stated that a drone attack occurred on MT Petro Dolphin, following which two of the 11 Indian sailors on board were reported missing. The ministry also mentioned another attack on the oil tanker MT Walthira in the same region.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs,
The MT Walthira, flagged by the Marshall Islands, was attacked by an unidentified drone, causing a fire on the vessel. Fortunately, all 11 Indian sailors on this tanker have been reported safe. Thus, a total of 22 Indian sailors were on board both vessels, of which two are currently missing. The available statements do not identify any party responsible for the attacks.
The ministry reported that the Indian embassy in Muscat is monitoring the entire situation. The embassy is in contact with Omani authorities and the relevant management companies of both vessels. The aim of this coordination is to assist in the rescue of the missing Indians and provide all possible support to the Indian crew members. With the news of the nine Indians rescued from Petro Dolphin and the 11 Indians on Walthira being safe, the focus of the search is now on the two missing sailors.
India has clarified in its statement that the safety of Indian sailors is the government's priority. The Ministry of External Affairs has described the repeated attacks on commercial vessels in the region as extremely concerning. According to the ministry, such incidents could further exacerbate the already unstable situation. India has demanded an immediate cessation of attacks on commercial vessels, sailors, and civilian infrastructure. It has also emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the ongoing conflict.
The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated the urgent need to de-escalate tensions, stating that the freedom of sailors must be respected in accordance with international law. It is essential to ensure safe and uninterrupted maritime trade through international waterways.
Currently, the local Coast Guard's search and rescue operation is ongoing. Indian officials have stated that they are in continuous coordination with the relevant parties in Oman to locate the two missing Indian sailors and ensure that the crew receives necessary assistance.