Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Five Crew Members Killed as Somali Forces Retake Hijacked Tanker
A group of pirates captured two fuel ships near Somalia.
Somali security forces later took back one ship, called the MT Honour 25.
Five people on that ship had died, including sailors from Pakistan, India and Myanmar.
Three Pakistani sailors and one Indian sailor were also wounded.
Authorities blamed the pirates, but they did not explain exactly how the deaths happened.
Sixteen suspected pirates were arrested during the operation.
The pirates later let another ship, the MT Eureka, go free.
All 12 people on that second ship were alive, although the vessel had been damaged and some of its fuel was taken.
Five crew members—three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national—were killed aboard the hijacked MT Honour 25.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force blamed Somali pirates for the deaths but did not explain how or when they occurred.
Somali forces retook the Palau-flagged tanker off Puntland and detained 16 suspected pirates.
The MT Honour 25 was reportedly hijacked on April 21 while carrying about 18,500 barrels of fuel.
Pirates separately released the MT Eureka, whose 12 crew members—eight Egyptians and four Indians—were unharmed.
- Who
- The crews of the MT Honour 25 and MT Eureka, Somali pirates, and the Puntland Maritime Police Force.
- What
- Somali forces retook the hijacked MT Honour 25 after five crew members were killed; pirates separately released the MT Eureka with its crew unharmed.
- When
- The MT Honour 25 was seized on April 21, and both the retaking of that vessel and the release of the MT Eureka occurred on Tuesday.
- Where
- The incidents occurred off Puntland, a semi-autonomous state of Somalia; the MT Eureka was seized off Yemen’s Port of Qana.
- Why
- The Puntland Maritime Police Force launched an operation to secure the hijacked tanker and detain suspected pirates.
Puntland Authorities’ Account
Unresolved Details
Responsibility for the deaths
Puntland Authorities’ Account
The Puntland Maritime Police Force blamed the pirates holding the MT Honour 25 for killing five crew members.
Unresolved Details
Authorities did not publicly explain how or when the crew members died, leaving the specific circumstances unresolved.
Surrender attempt
Puntland Authorities’ Account
Local authorities reportedly said the pirates offered to surrender while concealing the deaths.
Unresolved Details
The available reports do not include a public response from the pirates or an independent account confirming that allegation.
- Deaths aboard MT Honour 25
- Five crew members were killed: three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national.
- Wounded crew
- Three Pakistani crew members and one Indian national were wounded.
- Suspects detained
- Sixteen suspected pirates were detained during the operation.
- MT Honour 25 cargo
- The tanker was reportedly carrying about 18,500 barrels of fuel when seized.
- MT Eureka crew
- Twelve crew members—eight Egyptians and four Indians—were released unharmed.
- MT Eureka cargo
- The tanker was carrying 20,400 barrels of fuel, much of which was reportedly siphoned off and sold at sea.