Aden, Yemen – In a dramatic rescue operation, twenty-three Indian crew members were saved from a blazing LPG tanker off the coast of Yemen on October 18, 2025. The incident occurred on the Cameroon-flagged MV Falcon, which suffered an explosion and subsequent fire while en route from Oman's Sohar Port to Djibouti.

The MV Falcon was approximately 113 nautical miles southeast of Aden when the explosion took place at around 7:00 AM UTC. The force of the blast caused a fire, engulfing about 15% of the vessel, and rendered it adrift.

Following the explosion, the crew was forced to abandon ship. The EU Naval Force Operation Aspides swiftly launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation. Twenty-three of the twenty-four crew members, all of whom are Indian nationals, were successfully rescued. They have been safely handed over to the Djiboutian Coast Guard.

Tragically, two crew members remain missing. According to reports, one crew member was still on board the MV Falcon at the time of the latest update. The nationalities of the missing crew members are currently unknown.

The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. While initial reports suggest the explosion was accidental, authorities have dismissed claims that it was caused by an attack. Social media reports have speculated that the LPG-loaded tanker may have been hit by an unknown projectile.

Given that the tanker is fully loaded with Liquified Petroleum Gas, there is a significant risk of further explosions. Operation Aspides has issued warnings to vessels in the area to maintain a safe distance from the MV Falcon, which they have declared a navigational hazard. "The fire on board is increasing," Aspides stated.

Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority stated they assisted in the rescue operation of survivors from the MV Falcon, further reporting that the gas carrier MV Meda rescued the 24 crew members after they abandoned ship.