One sailor killed in attack on Indian-flagged cargo ship near Oman

One sailor has been killed after an Indian-flagged cargo vessel came under attack near the coast of Oman while 13 other crew members were rescued according to India's shipping minister.

One sailor has been killed after an Indian-flagged cargo vessel came under attack near the coast of Oman while 13 other crew members were rescued according to India’s shipping minister.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the vessel identified as MSV Al Jousafi was carrying 14 Indian sailors when it was targeted on Monday.

According to the minister the ship was struck by an unidentified aerial object while sailing near the Omani coastline. Following the incident the Oman Coast Guard launched a rescue operation and safely evacuated 13 crew members.

One sailor suffered critical injuries and later died. The deceased was identified as Gandhar Naheim Aziz who belonged to Gujarat, India.

Sonowal expressed sorrow over the loss of life and extended his condolences to the victim’s family through a message posted on social media platform X.

He said India’s shipping ministry was coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Oman and local authorities to provide immediate assistance to the surviving crew members. Arrangements were also being made to bring the rescued sailors and the deceased’s body back to India at the earliest opportunity.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Iran war and attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Saudi Arabian targets. However attacks specifically involving Indian-flagged vessels have remained relatively limited according to the report.

Figures cited in the report indicate that 22 Indian nationals including 14 people employed aboard seagoing vessels have died since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in February 2026.

The latest incident has raised further concerns about maritime safety in the region, particularly for commercial vessels and their crews operating along strategically important shipping routes.