Fourteen Indian nationals were rescued after their vessel encountered an emergency and sank off the coast of Oman on Sunday morning, June 14, with the US Navy playing a key role in the operation alongside Omani authorities and nearby commercial ships.
The vessel reportedly encountered trouble about 80 nautical miles east of Ras Al Hadd, prompting the US Navy to alert shore authorities and the Indian Navy.
A US Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft responded to the emergency, deploying a life raft and monitoring the situation from above. Nearby vessels were also mobilised to assist in the rescue effort.
Among them was MV Jabal Ali 9, a cargo ship that diverted from its scheduled voyage between Sohar and Mumbai to support the operation.
Indian embassy issues update
In a post on X, the Embassy of India in Oman said it had learnt of an incident involving the Indian-flagged Mechanised Sailing Vessel (MSV) Virat 1 off the Omani coast.
The embassy added that search and rescue efforts were being coordinated with Omani authorities and vessels operating near the scene.
The mission later said the vessel had suffered an engine failure and that all crew members had safely transferred to a life raft before being rescued. The embassy added that the operation was carried out in coordination with Omani authorities and vessels operating in the area.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns along key maritime routes in the region, including waters near the Strait of Hormuz, following ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
