Key facts
- 14 Indian nationals were rescued from a sinking dhow in the Northern Arabian Sea.
- The rescue operation was coordinated by the US Navy, involving a P-8 aircraft, an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, and the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- The mariners had sent a distress call after their dhow experienced engine failure.
- Eleven crew members were recovered by the M/V Jabal Ali 9 after boarding a life raft dropped by the US Navy.
- Three additional mariners were rescued by a US Navy helicopter after their life raft capsized.
A US Navy helicopter and ship successfully rescued 14 Indian mariners from a sinking dhow in the Northern Arabian Sea on Sunday. The mariners had sent a distress call after their vessel, identified as MSV Virat 1, experienced engine failure approximately 80 nautical miles off the coast of Oman.
Upon receiving the distress call, a US Navy P-8 aircraft was the first on the scene, dropping a search and rescue kit including a life raft. Eleven crew members boarded this raft and were subsequently recovered by the Motor Vessel Jabal Ali 9. An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, rescued three additional mariners when their life raft capsized in rough seas. These three were also transported to the M/V Jabal Ali 9.
The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed that all 14 crew members were rescued and are currently en route to Mumbai. The US 5th Fleet's area of operations, which includes the Northern Arabian Sea, covers a vast maritime region crucial for global trade.