Somali forces recover oil tanker carrying Pakistani crewmen over 5 months after hijacking by pirates

Somali maritime police have recovered an oil tanker, the MT Honour 25, that had been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia since April 21, 2026. The vessel, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, carried 17 crew members, among them 10 Pakistanis. The Puntland Maritime Police Force carried out a planned operation in the Dharin-Bar area of Bandar Beyla district to recover the tanker.

The Foreign Office has been contacted for a comment on the incident. Ayesha Ameen, wife of a fitter on the ship, expressed her distress over the situation. She reported receiving unconfirmed reports of casualties among the Pakistani crew members and mentioned that her husband, Ameen Bin Shams, was reportedly among the injured. Ayesha stated that they are trying to establish contact with the ship's captain, but their calls are not being answered.

She expressed concern over the unknown fate of the bodies and injured crew members, stating that no one has been informed about their potential movement.

Initial reports suggest that there have been five deaths and four injuries among the crew. This is a developing story and the information may change as the situation unfolds.