Family of Pakistani crew member decries govt silence after deadly rescue op
At a glance
- 3 Pakistani crew members were among 5 killed in the rescue of hijacked tanker MT Honour 25.
- Somali forces recovered the vessel off the coast of Puntland and detained the pirates.
- A relative of a surviving crew member has criticized the Pakistani government's silence.
Story so far
The oil tanker MT Honour 25, with 10 Pakistani nationals among its crew, was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 21. A rescue operation by Puntland maritime forces on Tuesday recovered the vessel. However, the operation resulted in the deaths of five crew members, including three Pakistanis. Several others were injured, and nine pirates were arrested.
Latest development
A relative of a surviving Pakistani crew member has criticized the government's perceived silence following the deadly rescue operation. The family stated they were informed of the casualties by a crew member on the ship and are awaiting an official response and assistance from Pakistani authorities.
Latest updates
Following the rescue operation of the MT Honour 25, a relative of a surviving Pakistani crew member has expressed distress over the lack of communication from Pakistani authorities. Speaking to the media, the relative stated that families were informed of the casualties by a crew member on the ship and criticized the government for its perceived silence on the matter. The families, who had been appealing for help for five months, are now seeking clarity and assistance from officials.
Three Pakistani nationals were among five crew members killed during the operation to recover the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25, a surviving crew member has confirmed. The deceased Pakistanis have been identified as Second Officer Kashif Umar, Third Engineer Mehmood Ansari, and Fitter Rafiullah Khan, all from Karachi.
According to Second Engineer Syed Hussain Yousuf, an Indian and a Myanmar national were also killed. He added that three other Pakistanis were among four crew members injured in the operation. Reports indicate the pirates damaged the vessel while attempting to flee. The ship is now being taken to a port, a journey expected to take three days, to arrange for medical treatment for the injured.
Responses
Latest Fact Checks
Pakistanis among crew as Puntland forces rescue hijacked tanker
Somalia’s Puntland security forces rescued the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged petroleum products tanker seized by Somali pirates in April with at least 10 Pakistanis among the 17 crew members on board, Puntland state television reported on Tuesday. Th
Somali forces recover oil tanker carrying Pakistani crewmen over 5 months after hijacking by pirates
Somali maritime police said on Tuesday that they had recovered an oil tanker, the MT Honour 25, which was hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia on April 21, 2026. The Honour 25 — a Palau-flagged oil tanker — had 17 crew members
A tragic outcome after five months of uncertainty. It is deeply concerning that families reportedly learned of the casualties from a crew member, not through official channels.