22 Indian Seafarers Rescued After Drone Strike Near UAE
A high-stakes rescue operation was launched off the coast of the United Arab Emirates after a drone strike targeted a massive oil tanker, leaving 22 Indian seafarers in immediate danger. The incident, which occurred on October 9, 2026, sent shockwaves through the maritime community as the crew fought to contain a fire sparked by the projectile.
The Attack on MT GEM No. 2
The vessel involved, the Panama-flagged MT GEM No. 2, is a 2017-built Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with a deadweight exceeding 300,000 tonnes. At the time of the strike, the tanker was anchored approximately 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, the drone strike caused an immediate fire on board. Despite the chaos, the crew managed to successfully extinguish the blaze before it could cause catastrophic damage to the vessel. However, the threat to the lives of the crew remained critical.
Emergency Rescue and Medical Assistance
On October 10, the UAE National Guard’s Coast Guard launched a swift rescue mission near Ras Al Khaimah. The operation successfully evacuated all 22 Indian nationals from the vessel. During the evacuation, the Coast Guard provided essential medical assistance to the crew members.
By October 11, the Indian Consulate General in Dubai confirmed that all 22 seafarers were in stable condition and were receiving official support from the government. Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also took to X to announce that the crew was safe and that the Indian government was in active communication with the ship's management.
A Growing Threat to Maritime Safety
This latest attack is part of a worrying trend of strikes on commercial shipping vessels within the Gulf and the Black Sea. The volatility of the region has already claimed lives; a previous strike off the coast of Oman resulted in the death of 26-year-old Suraj Yadav from Deoria.
The scale of the risk to Indian maritime professionals is significant. Currently, more than 23,000 Indian mariners operate in these high-risk regions, with over 12,000 of them based in the UAE. In response to these escalating dangers, India has taken a proactive diplomatic stance by co-chairing the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers alongside Liberia, aiming to advocate for enhanced protection for crews.
Regional Instability and Ongoing Investigations
The drone strike on the MT GEM No. 2 comes amidst broader regional tensions. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently condemned Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which resulted in 12 deaths and more than 300 injuries, labeling the targeting of civilian infrastructure as unacceptable.
As of now, investigations into the exact source of the drone strike that hit the MT GEM No. 2 are still ongoing.