A significant maritime rescue operation successfully saved 23 Indian sailors from the MV Falcon, an LPG tanker that caught fire and was left adrift following an explosion off the coast of Yemen. The Cameroon-flagged vessel, fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas, experienced the blast and subsequent fire on Saturday, October 18, 2025, while sailing southeast of the port of Aden, en route to Djibouti.
Responding to an urgent distress call from the tanker’s master, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES—the European Union’s naval force dedicated to protecting civilian shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden—swiftly launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation. Under the strategic coordination of Rear Admiral Andrea Quondamatteo, Force Commander of ASPIDES, the mission was executed with precision.
The cargo ship MV MEDA played a crucial role, successfully rescuing 24 crew members, including one Ukrainian national and the 23 Indian sailors. Following their rescue, the seafarers were safely escorted to the Port of Djibouti and handed over to the Djiboutian Coast Guard.
While the rescue brings immense relief, two members of the 26-person crew are still unaccounted for, and search operations continue in the area. Authorities have issued a critical warning to all vessels in the vicinity, advising them to maintain a safe distance due to the persistent risk of further explosions from the MV Falcon’s volatile LPG cargo.