NEW DELHI: One Indian national was killed in an attack on a cargo ship on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, 2.5 nautical miles off Oman’s coast.
The Indian embassy in Oman said it was closely monitoring the attack on the bulk carrier MV Cape Dao and was coordinating with Omani authorities over the safety of all crew members, including 19 Indian nationals. The vessel was heading towards India.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one Indian national in this attack,” the embassy said.
We are closely monitoring the attack on MV Cape Dao today while transiting toward India, and are in close coordination with Omani authorities regarding the safety of all crew on board, including 19 Indian nationals.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of one Indian national in…— India in Oman (Embassy of India, Muscat) (@Indemb_Muscat) September 23, 2026
Oman’s Maritime Security Centre said on Wednesday that it carried out an evacuation operation for the crew of the vessel following the attack off the Sultanate’s Musandam governorate.
A total of 27 crew members were evacuated, the centre said, and one crew member was killed without disclosing his nationality.
نفذت إحدى سفن البحرية السلطانية العُمانية بالتعاون والتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة عملية إخلاء لطاقم السفينة التجارية (CAPE DAO) التي ترفع علم أنتيغوا وباربودا، حيث جرى إخلاء (٢٧) فردا من طاقمها وتقديم الرعاية الصحية اللازمة لهم، إثر تعرض السفينة لاستهداف على بُعد (٢٫٥) ميل بحري من… pic.twitter.com/wt6KcSrbf0
— مركز الأمن البحري| MARITIME SECURITY CENTRE (@OMAN_MSC) September 23, 2026
In a statement, India’s foreign ministry condemned the attack on the Cape Dao, in which “one Indian national tragically lost his life”.
“The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region must be restored at the earliest,” the Indian foreign ministry added.
Our statement on the attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/gXzupV0MKT pic.twitter.com/GcrLw0FFmy
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 23, 2026
India’s foreign ministry confirmed that of the 20 Indian seafarers on board, 19 have been rescued, while one “tragically lost his life.”
India is one of the largest contributors of sailors to merchant shipping worldwide, and several of its mariners have been killed in Hormuz attacks since the Middle East war began.
Since the start of the Middle East war, Iran has sought to impose its control over maritime shipping through Hormuz, occasionally striking ships accused of failing to coordinate with its authorities or deviating from its preferred route.
In retaliation, the United States has been enforcing a counter-blockade of Iranian ports, carrying out strikes of its own on ships it says refuse to comply.
Oman sits across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, and ships seeking to skirt Tehran’s restrictions have recently been taking a route that hugs the Omani coast.
