MT Honour 25 Crew Arrive in Karachi With Three Remains
Four injured Pakistani members of the MT Honour 25 crew left Addis Ababa for Karachi on Sunday, bringing with them the remains of three colleagues killed during the hijacking.
The survivors, Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan, were seen off by Pakistan’s ambassadors to Ethiopia and Djibouti before their scheduled arrival in Karachi aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694. They are accompanied by the mortal remains of three Pakistani sailors: Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari.
The Foreign Office said the families of the deceased crew members were receiving full support, and that diplomatic missions in the region had worked through the legal and administrative formalities needed for the repatriation.
Five months of captivity
The Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 was seized by Somali pirates in April while sailing near the Puntland coast with a crew of 17, including 10 Pakistani nationals. The remaining crew members were four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one Myanmar national.
The hostages endured nearly five months of captivity, with families in Pakistan protesting for months to press the government for their safe return. On September 29, Somali maritime police conducted a recovery operation, freeing the tanker and apprehending suspected pirates.
The operation turned deadly. Five crew members lost their lives: three Pakistanis, one Indian national and one Myanmar national. Official statements say the pirates killed the crew members as the operation began. Ansar Burney, director of the Ansar Burney Trust, which works on maritime welfare, confirmed the casualties and said his organisation had repeatedly alerted the authorities about the danger the crew faced during their captivity.
The MT Honour 25 crew and what remains unresolved
The four injured Pakistanis spent days under medical care in Garowe after being brought ashore at Bandar Beyla. They were then moved to Addis Ababa for their journey home. Two unhurt Pakistani crew members, Syed Muhammad Murtaza and Mahmood Khan, also returned on the flight.
Three other Pakistani crew members, Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain, remain aboard the vessel along with the captain. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that Pakistan was coordinating with friendly countries to secure their safe extraction and earliest possible return.
A national effort
The case became one of the most closely watched maritime incidents of the year in Pakistan. The Foreign Office stayed engaged with Somali authorities throughout the captivity, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a relief package for the families of the deceased sailors.
The return of the survivors closes the most painful chapter of the crisis, but the government’s attention now turns to the remaining crew members still aboard the tanker in Somali waters.
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Frequently asked questions
Who are the MT Honour 25 crew members returning to Karachi?
The four injured survivors are Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan. The remains of three deceased sailors, Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari, are travelling with them.
When was the MT Honour 25 hijacked?
The Palau-flagged tanker was seized by Somali pirates in April 2026 while sailing near the Puntland coast. It was recovered by Somali maritime police on September 29, 2026.
How many crew members were aboard?
The vessel carried 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani nationals, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one Myanmar national.
Are all Pakistani crew members back?
No. Three Pakistani crew members, Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain, remain aboard the vessel with the captain. Pakistan says it is coordinating for their early return.
