Fire onboard MV Falcon: 23 Indian crew rescued; tanker drifts off Yemen coast

A total of 23 Indian crew members have been rescued after a fire broke out on the Cameroon-flagged LPG tanker MV Falcon following an explosion off the coast of Aden, Yemen. The incident occurred on Saturday, October 18, at 07:00 UTC, when the vessel was about 113 nautical miles southeast of Aden, en route to Djibouti.The explosion caused the tanker to go adrift, with roughly 15 percent of the ship engulfed in flames. Early reports suggest the blast was accidental, though the exact cause is still under investigation.According to British security firm Ambrey, the MV Falcon had been traveling from Oman's Sohar Port to Djibouti. Radio communications indicated the crew was preparing to abandon the vessel as a search-and-rescue operation was launched.The EU Naval Force Operation Aspides immediately initiated a rescue mission. Of the 24 crew members who initially abandoned the vessel, 23—all Indians—have been safely rescued. Two crew members remain missing, and one was still onboard at the time of the latest update.Since the tanker was fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas, Aspides warned nearby vessels to maintain a safe distance due to the risk of further explosions.

“The fire onboard is increasing,” the force said, adding that MV Falcon poses a navigational hazard and that all nearby ships should exercise caution.A private company has now taken over the salvage operation for the damaged tanker. The incident comes amid continued threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea corridor, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, according to Al Jazeera.The EU Naval Force’s Aspides mission is tasked with defending civilian ships and crews navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.