It was supposed to be a routine anchorage stop. The MT Petro Dolphin, a Nicaragua-flagged oil tanker with eleven Indian seafarers on board, was holding position at Sohar Anchorage off the coast of Oman when a drone slammed into the vessel on Sunday. The explosion set off panic on the deck, and when the smoke cleared, two Indian crew members could not be found.
- Who are the two missing sailors?
- Search underway, nine rescued
- India condemns twin ship attacks
- Families wait in anguish
- What happens next
- FAQs
- What happened to the MT Petro Dolphin?
- Who are the two missing Indian sailors?
- What is India doing to find them?
- Was any other ship attacked?
- How has India responded to the attacks?
Nine of the eleven were pulled out alive and are safe. Three days later, the two missing men are still unaccounted for, and their families back home have been living a nightmare of waiting rooms, phone calls and unanswered questions.
Who are the two missing sailors?
On Monday, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) named the missing men as Bir Bahadur Yadav and Amit Singh. The union said it had been pressing for urgent information on their whereabouts and for support for their families, who have received no firm word on what happened to them in the moments after the drone hit the deck.
According to reports, the union shared footage of the attack on social media showing the vessel burning after the strike. In a strongly worded post, the FSUI questioned why crews were being left exposed in what it described as a conflict-hit region, and asked for a clear update on the missing sailors, confirmation of their condition, and stronger protection for merchant seafarers.
Search underway, nine rescued
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating that the tanker was carrying eleven Indian seafarers when it was attacked on October 11.
The local Coast Guard launched search-and-rescue operations immediately after the attack, and Indian authorities have been coordinating with Omani agencies to support the effort. The Embassy of India in Muscat said it was closely monitoring the situation and remaining in continuous contact with the concerned authorities.
India condemns twin ship attacks
The Petro Dolphin was not the only vessel targeted that day. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said a second tanker, the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera, was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire on board. All eleven Indian seafarers aboard that vessel were reported safe.
India condemned both attacks, called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict in the region, and urged all sides to stop attacks on commercial shipping. The MEA stressed that the safety of Indian nationals, particularly seafarers, remained its top priority and underlined the importance of freedom of navigation through international waterways.
These incidents follow a worrying pattern. Earlier in the month, another vessel with Indian crew was targeted off the Omani coast, and maritime security analysts have counted at least thirteen incidents involving oil, LNG and LPG tankers around the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks, raising fears about one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes.
Families wait in anguish
For the families of Yadav and Singh, the official updates offer little comfort. Each passing day without news deepens the anguish of a wait no family should have to endure. Maritime unions and fellow seafarers have rallied behind the families, pressing the authorities for transparency and for a full account of what safety measures were in place on the vessel.
The episode has also revived a larger question that seafarer unions have been raising for months: who protects the crews sailing through the world’s most dangerous shipping lanes? The Indian government says it is coordinating with all relevant authorities to locate the missing men and to ensure every possible action is taken for their safe return.
What happens next
The search operation continues off the Omani coast, with the local Coast Guard leading the effort. India’s embassy in Muscat remains in contact with Omani authorities and the ship management company, and the government has said it will keep pushing for answers and for de-escalation in the region.
Until the two sailors are found, their families can do nothing but wait. Their story has become the human face of a shipping crisis unfolding across the Gulf, one in which ordinary Indian workers have found themselves caught in the crossfire of a conflict they had no part in starting.
FAQs
What happened to the MT Petro Dolphin?
The Nicaragua-flagged oil tanker, carrying eleven Indian seafarers, was hit by a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage off Oman on October 11, 2026. Nine crew members were rescued, while two Indian sailors remain missing.
Who are the two missing Indian sailors?
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has identified the missing seafarers as Bir Bahadur Yadav and Amit Singh.
What is India doing to find them?
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the local Coast Guard is running active search-and-rescue operations, with Indian authorities coordinating with Omani agencies. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is closely monitoring the situation.
Was any other ship attacked?
Yes. The MEA said the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Valthera was also struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on the same day. All eleven Indian crew members on that vessel are safe.
How has India responded to the attacks?
India has condemned the attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region, called for immediate de-escalation and dialogue, and stressed the safety of its seafarers as a top priority.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.
