Overview
- EUNAVFOR Operation Aspides coordinated the rescue after Saturday’s explosion, with gas carrier MV Meda evacuating 24 crew — 23 Indians and one Ukrainian — to Djibouti, and authorities later confirming two deaths.
- The U.S. Navy–overseen Joint Maritime Information Center says the blaze appears accidental based on crew accounts, with investigations continuing after early, unconfirmed reports of a projectile.
- The tanker remains on fire and drifting about 113 nautical miles southeast of Aden while fully laden with liquefied petroleum gas, and Aspides has warned ships to keep clear due to explosion risk.
- A private salvage firm has been engaged to secure the vessel, which EU officials describe as a navigational hazard as flames persist on deck.
- The Falcon was sailing from Oman’s Sohar port to Djibouti, and although the region has seen prior attacks on shipping, no attribution has been made in this incident.