The Journey Home: MT Honour 25 Crew Members Rescued
In a heartwarming development, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that three remaining Pakistani crew members of the MT Honour 25 oil tanker were safely rescued and flown to Addis Ababa. This news brings a collective sigh of relief, as all seven surviving crew members are now on their way back home. The trio—Imran Ali, Muhammad Yasin, and Syed Husain Yousuf—along with a team from the Pakistani Embassy in Djibouti, are expected to board the first available Ethiopian Airlines flight to Karachi on October 7.
Earlier, four other crew members who were injured during the harrowing hijacking were flown to Karachi, where they arrived via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694. Unfortunately, this flight also carried the remains of three Pakistani sailors who tragically lost their lives in the incident. Families of those souls received their loved ones in a time of immense sorrow and gratitude.
The hijacking of MT Honour 25, which occurred on April 21 while sailing from Oman to Somalia, highlighted the persistent danger of piracy in these waters. The crew was held hostage, and the families tirelessly campaigned for their release. Initially, the pirates demanded a ransom of $3 million, which eventually decreased to $1 million. Sadly, the situation escalated dangerously when the pirates resorted to violence during a rescue operation, resulting in the loss of five crew members, including three Pakistanis.
It’s essential that we not only celebrate the safe return of the crew but also acknowledge the collaborative efforts that made it possible. The Government of Somalia and the European Union Naval Force, EUNAVFOR Atalanta, played pivotal roles in securing the crew’s release. Minister Dar expressed his "deep gratitude" towards both, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to combatting maritime piracy and ensuring the safety of international maritime routes.
As piracy incidents have surged off the coast of Somalia—recording at least 15 attacks this year—the need for increased global cooperation against such threats becomes ever more apparent. Each rescued crew member is a reminder of the risks faced by those who venture into these perilous waters.
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