Four Pakistani sailors injured during a security operation to recover the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia, along with the remains of three Pakistani crew members killed in the episode, are expected to reach Karachi.
The seven Pakistanis departed Addis Ababa aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office. Pakistan’s ambassadors to Ethiopia and Djibouti were present to see off the injured sailors and the bodies of those who died during the operation.
The injured crew members have been identified as Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan. The mortal remains being brought back to Pakistan belong to Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari.
The seven were among 10 Pakistani nationals serving aboard MT Honour 25 when Somali pirates hijacked the Palau-flagged oil tanker in April. The vessel also carried seven Indonesian nationals, one Indian and one Sri Lankan crew member.
Five-Month Hijacking Ends in Deadly Operation
The hostage crisis continued for around five months, with negotiations reportedly making little progress. The ransom demand was said to have initially stood at around $3 million, while concerns grew over the deteriorating health of the hostages.
During their captivity, members of the crew reportedly released emotional audio and video appeals, saying they had run short of clean water, food and medicines.
The Foreign Office repeatedly maintained that it remained actively engaged in efforts to secure the sailors’ release.
On September 29, Somali maritime police recovered MT Honour 25 during a security operation. Authorities said 21 suspected pirates were apprehended, while efforts continued to locate other individuals connected with the incident.
According to one account, the pirates killed five crew members before the operation began, including three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national.
However, Advocate Quratulain of the Ansar Burney Trust provided a different account, saying the pirates had brought the hostages onto the deck after realising that Puntland security forces were approaching.
She said the hostages were allegedly tied up and threatened with death unless the ransom was paid. According to her account, the pirates opened fire on the hostages as security forces moved in, resulting in the deaths of three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a relief package of Rs12.5 million for the families of the Pakistani sailors who were killed.
The return of the injured sailors and the remains of the deceased marks a painful conclusion to a months-long ordeal that began with the hijacking of MT Honour 25 and ended with a deadly security operation off the Somali coast.
