Overview
- The Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello was struck off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, and Indian authorities confirmed on Friday that three crew members from India were killed.
- The dead include chief engineer Patnala Suresh of Visakhapatnam, deck cadet Aditya Sharma, and engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, according to state and local reports.
- Omani authorities have anchored the damaged, not-seaworthy vessel about 30 nautical miles offshore and sent a tug to recover remains and tow the ship, with officials saying retrieval could take more than 18 hours before bodies can be brought ashore.
- Andhra Pradesh leaders led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have offered condolences, ordered support to the families, and asked officials to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Oman to speed repatriation.
- Some reports attribute the strike to the US military after an alleged attempted breach of a blockade, but that claim is limited in verification and is being treated as unconfirmed as repatriation and an official investigation proceed.