Are Indian sailors missing after the Hormuz tanker attacks? Crew updates for both ships
Yes. Two Indian sailors were reported missing after the MT Petro Dolphin was struck near Oman on October 11, 2026, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said. They were aboard one of two tankers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz region that day. The ministry said all 11 Indian sailors aboard the other vessel, the MT Valthera, were safe.
What happened to the crew of the MT Petro Dolphin?
The Petro Dolphin, which had 11 Indian seafarers aboard, was reportedly hit by a drone at Sohar Anchorage off Oman. India’s shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said nine crew members had been rescued and were safe, while two remained missing. He said the local Coast Guard was conducting a search-and-rescue operation.
The missing sailors’ whereabouts had not been established in the reported official updates as of October 12. Being reported missing does not confirm that they were killed. India’s embassy in Muscat said it was in contact with the authorities involved, and the foreign ministry said the embassy was coordinating with Omani officials and the ship’s management to support the search and assist the crew.
Were any Indian sailors missing from the MT Valthera?
No Indian crew members were reported missing from the second tanker. The Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera was struck by an unknown projectile, which caused a fire aboard, according to India’s foreign ministry. All 11 Indian seafarers on that ship were reported safe.
The distinction matters: both vessels had 11 Indian sailors aboard, but the report of two missing crew members concerns only the Petro Dolphin. Across the two ships, Indian officials reported 20 sailors safe and two missing. The ministry described the object that hit the Valthera as an unknown projectile; it did not identify who launched it.
Where were the tankers attacked?
Indian officials placed both October 11 incidents in the broader Strait of Hormuz region. They identified the Petro Dolphin’s location more specifically as Sohar Anchorage off Oman. The Valthera was reported struck in the Strait of Hormuz. Those descriptions should not be read as placing the two ships at the same location.
India condemned the attacks on commercial shipping and called for de-escalation. For families seeking a crew update, the central unresolved question is the location and condition of the two sailors missing from the Petro Dolphin; the Indian crew of the Valthera were reported safe.
