The Panama-flagged oil tanker ELGAIA was attacked approximately 103 nautical miles northeast of Musandam Governorate, Oman, triggering a fire in its engine room and prompting a large-scale search-and-rescue operation, Oman's Maritime Security Centre confirmed on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. The vessel, now being towed to an Omani port, had 14 Indian nationals among its crew — of whom 13 have been rescued and one remains missing.

What Happened to the ELGAIA

A fire erupted in the tanker's engine room following the attack, disabling the vessel. A Royal Navy of Oman warship responded and evacuated 23 crew members in total, all of whom received medical attention. Search operations for the remaining two missing crew members — including the one Indian national — are continuing, according to Oman's Maritime Security Centre. The Centre is monitoring the towing operation in coordination with relevant authorities.

India's Response: One Seafarer Still Missing

Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), addressed the incident at a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, confirming the nationality breakdown of the crew. 'We had 14 Indian nationals or seafarers, of whom 13 have been rescued, and we deeply thank the Omani authorities for rescuing our nationals. One Indian national is missing; the seafarer was on board. Search and rescue operations continue with the help of the Omani authorities,' Jaiswal said.

He confirmed that the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and actively coordinating with Omani authorities on the ongoing rescue operation.

India Condemns Targeting of Commercial Shipping

The MEA has condemned the attack in strong terms, calling it an affront to maritime safety norms. Jaiswal underscored India's position: 'Targeting of commercial shipping, targeting of seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable to us. We also urge that free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through international and national waterways in the region be restored at the earliest.'

Notably, the MEA had already condemned the attack on the vessel — referred to as MT El Gaia in ministry communications — when it first occurred on Sunday, reiterating calls for 'immediate de-escalation of tensions and pursuance of dialogue and diplomacy to bring peace to the region.'

Broader Context: Rising Maritime Threats in the Region

This attack is part of a broader pattern of maritime insecurity in the waters around the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, a strategic corridor for global energy trade. Commercial vessels in the region have faced repeated targeting in recent years, disrupting cargo flows and threatening the safety of seafarers from multiple nations. India, one of the world's largest sources of merchant marine crew, has a direct stake in the security of these shipping lanes, with tens of thousands of Indian seafarers working aboard international vessels at any given time.

With the tanker being towed to port and search operations under way, the fate of the missing Indian seafarer remains the most urgent concern. All eyes are on the outcome of the ongoing rescue mission.