An Indian sailor was among five crew members killed by Somali pirates aboard a hijacked fuel tanker off the coast of Somalia, according to authorities. The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) confirmed the deaths occurred before its forces launched an operation to secure the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour 25. The PMPF stated that the pirates had initially offered to surrender while concealing the deaths of the crew members. The vessel, carrying 18,500 barrels of fuel bound for Mogadishu, was hijacked on April 21, 2026, and remained under pirate control for several months.

The PMPF reported that its forces carried out a maritime operation off the coast of Dharin-baar, Bandar Beyla District, successfully rescuing the MT Honour 25 oil tanker, which had been hijacked by pirates. The vessel is now safe and under Puntland government control. During the operation, 16 suspected pirates were apprehended, while efforts to locate the remaining hijackers continue. The PMPF did not provide details on how or when the crew members were killed, attributing the deaths to the pirates holding the vessel off the coast of Puntland.

According to the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), the MT Honour 25 was hijacked in April while sailing towards Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. It was carrying about 17 crew members, most of them Pakistani nationals, along with a cargo of oil products. BBC Somali reported that the crew comprised 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one Myanmar national. The PMPF said the pirates had concealed the deaths of the crew members during their initial surrender offer.

In another development, Somali pirates released a Togo-flagged tanker after holding it off Puntland’s Karkaar region. About 30 armed pirates disembarked, handing over all 12 crew members, comprising eight Egyptians and four Indians, unharmed to the local community. The pirates reportedly damaged the vessel, MT Eureka, and set parts of it on fire before fleeing. The tanker had been hijacked on May 2, 2026, off Yemen’s Port of Qana while carrying 20,400 barrels of fuel. A substantial amount of its cargo was siphoned off and sold at sea during the months it was held captive. The crew members are now in the care of local residents in the Hul-Aanood area.

The PMPF did not provide further details on the circumstances of the deaths of the five crew members, including the Indian sailor, nor did it clarify the exact number of casualties. The PMPF’s statement attributed the deaths to the pirates, but no further information was given. The exact number of casualties and the circumstances of the deaths remain unclear, with sources differing on the composition of the crew and the sequence of events.

What remains unknown is the exact sequence of events leading to the deaths of the five crew members, the precise number of casualties, and the full details of the pirates’ actions during the hijack. The PMPF’s statement does not provide a detailed account of the incident, and no further information has been released by the pirates or any other organisation. The situation continues to evolve, with ongoing efforts to locate the remaining hijackers and secure the vessel.