Two Indian Seafarers Killed, One Missing After US Strike on Oil Tanker Off Oman Coast
India summons senior US diplomat, lodges strong protest over attack on commercial vessel Settebello that left 24 Indian crew members aboard.
New Delhi, June 11, 2026 – Two Indian seafarers have been confirmed dead and a third remains missing after a United States military strike on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman on Tuesday night, according to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI).
The attack on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello marks the first reported casualties among merchant sailors since Washington began its naval blockade of Iranian ports on April 13 .
The Victims
The two crew members killed in the attack have been identified as:
- Aditya Sharma – Deck Cadet
- Shivanand Chaurasiya – Engine Fitter
Patnala Suresh, the Chief Engineer, remains missing, FSUI General Secretary Manoj Yadav confirmed .
According to Yadav, the three affected crew members belonged to different parts of India – Himachal Pradesh, Deoria in Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh .
Of the 24 Indian crew members aboard the vessel, 21 have been rescued by Omani authorities and are reported safe .
How the Attack Unfolded
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strike occurred at approximately 11:14 PM on June 9 as the Settebello transited the Gulf of Oman.
“A U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces.”
— US Central Command statement
CENTCOM claimed the vessel was “violating the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran” .
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the tanker suffered an engine room fire approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of the Omani port of Sohar . The vessel transmitted a distress call stating it had been struck by a missile, following which the Omani Navy responded and evacuated the crew .
Maritime security sources noted that the Settebello was reportedly not among the vessels sanctioned or blacklisted by US authorities prior to the attack .
India’s Diplomatic Response
India took the rare step of summoning the most senior American diplomat in New Delhi to register a strong protest.
Jason Meeks, the US Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires, was called to the Ministry of External Affairs, where Additional Secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu delivered a formal demarche .
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the attack:
“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman. The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region.”
— Ministry of External Affairs statement
The statement added: “The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region in keeping with international law must be restored at the earliest” .
US Response
The US State Department has acknowledged India’s concerns. A spokesperson told Hindustan Times:
“The Department of State is in direct contact with the Government of India regarding this matter” .
CENTCOM has not publicly commented on the reported casualties, though it confirmed that US forces have now disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 humanitarian vessels to pass since the blockade began .
Growing Concerns for Seafarers’ Safety
The attack on the Settebello is the second such incident in recent days. On June 8, US forces disabled another tanker, the MT Marivex, which was also carrying an all-Indian crew .
FSUI General Secretary Manoj Yadav questioned whether alternative measures could have been taken before military action was employed:
“I absolutely refuse to believe that the US lacked information regarding the nationalities of the people on board those ships. If the ships failed to heed their instructions, detaining them was a viable alternative” .
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, expressed deep concern:
“I strongly condemn any act from any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping. This is simply unacceptable. My thoughts are with the families of the three missing seafarers and with all those awaiting news of the crew members” .
The Broader Conflict
The US imposed a naval blockade on Iran on April 13 after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz – through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies are transported – during the ongoing conflict that began on February 28 .
The two countries have been engaged in direct hostilities, with a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 . Despite ongoing negotiations to end the war, Iran and the US exchanged strikes as recently as Tuesday .
Search Operations Continue
Omani authorities continue search and rescue operations for the missing Chief Engineer, Patnala Suresh. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is closely coordinating with local authorities .
For families like those of Aditya Sharma, Shivanand Chaurasiya, and Patnala Suresh, the wait for answers continues.
Sources: Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), Ministry of External Affairs, US Central Command (CENTCOM), Reuters, BBC, Hindustan Times, Times of India, gCaptain, ThePrint
📊 Incident Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel | MT Settebello (Palau-flagged) |
| Date of Attack | June 9, 2026, 11:14 PM |
| Location | Gulf of Oman, approx. 20 nautical miles northeast of Sohar, Oman |
| US Justification | Violating blockade by transporting Iranian oil |
| Indian Crew | 24 total |
| Rescued | 21 |
| Confirmed Dead | 2 (Aditya Sharma, Shivanand Chaurasiya) |
| Missing | 1 (Patnala Suresh, Chief Engineer) |
| India’s Action | Summoned US Deputy Chief of Mission; lodged strong protest |
| US Response | State Department in direct contact with India |