Four Pakistani crew members wounded during the operation to retake the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia have departed Addis Ababa for Karachi, accompanied by the remains of three compatriots killed in the ordeal, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.
The group is travelling aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694 and was expected to land in Karachi on Sunday evening, according to the ministry.
Ambassadors See Off Injured Crew and Fallen Sailors
Pakistan’s ambassadors to Djibouti and Ethiopia were present in Addis Ababa to see off the four injured sailors — Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan — along with the bodies of Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari.
Ethiopian Airlines staff were also seen reviewing the necessary preparations for the transfer of the bodies to Pakistan.
Hijacking and Recovery Operation
The seven Pakistanis were among 10 Pakistani nationals aboard the Palau-flagged tanker, which was seized by Somali pirates in April. The vessel’s multinational crew also included seven Indonesians, one Indian and one Sri Lankan.
On September 29, Somali maritime police recovered the tanker following a security operation. Authorities said 21 suspected pirates were arrested, while searches continued for other members of the crew.
According to the Foreign Office, five crew members were killed before the operation began, including three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian.
Relief Package for Bereaved Families
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a relief package of Rs12.5 million for the families of the Pakistani sailors who lost their lives in the incident.
