Three Indian nationals with British connections have been reported missing following a strike on a US-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Sources confirm the vessel, the MV Pacific Pride, was hit by an unmanned aerial drone at approximately 0200 local time on Tuesday. The attack, claimed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, has reignited fears of a wider maritime conflict in the region.
The missing men, all crew members holding British work visas, were last seen in the engine room moments before the explosion. The ship’s captain, a US citizen, managed to relay a distress signal before communications went dark. A search operation involving Omani coast guard and US naval vessels is ongoing, but rough seas have hampered efforts.
A leaked internal memo from the tanker’s operator, a subsidiary of a British logistics firm, reveals that the ship was transporting crude oil from Basra to Fujairah. The memo highlights a pattern of reduced security protocols in the Gulf despite repeated warnings from intelligence agencies. The families of the missing sailors have been notified but remain in the dark about the search's progress.
This attack marks the third such incident this month targeting vessels with US or British ties. Documents uncovered by this newsroom show that the company had been warned by the UK’s Department for Transport two weeks ago to install additional anti-drone systems. The firm failed to comply, citing cost concerns.
The political fallout is mounting. Downing Street has condemned the strike but stopped short of direct accusations. Behind closed doors, sources say, Whitehall officials are scrambling to assess the risk to British maritime assets. The Indian High Commission in London has requested an urgent meeting with the Foreign Office.
The Gulf of Oman, already a powder keg, now has three more names added to its list of casualties. The men’s fates remain unknown, their absence a silent indictment of the gaps in the safety net that was supposed to protect them. The money men in suits will count their savings, while the families wait.
