Fourteen Indian sailors were rescued after the Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel (MSV) Virat 1 started sinking in the Arabian Sea, around 80 nautical miles east of Ras Al Hadd on the coast of Oman on Sunday morning, 14th June.
According to officials, the vessel suffered an engine failure, which left the crew stranded at sea. The crew members were later moved safely into a liferaft as emergency rescue efforts were launched.
The situation first came to light when a US Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft spotted the vessel in distress. The aircraft alerted the Indian Navy and shore authorities about the emergency. It also dropped a liferaft near the vessel and remained over the area, monitoring the sailors as they boarded it.
Sources in the shipping directorate said all 14 crew members successfully shifted to the liferaft. Indian naval authorities also confirmed the development and remained in touch with agencies involved in the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, the US Navy requested assistance from MV Jabal Ali 9, a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged ship that was sailing from Sohar and heading towards Mumbai. The vessel was asked by the P-8 aircraft to help with the rescue and was reported to be near the distressed dhow.
The Mission has learnt of an incident involving an Indian Flagged Mechanised Sailing Vessel Virat 1, off the coast of Oman, reportedly embarked with 14 Indian crew. Search and Rescue is being coordinated with the Omani authorities and vessels in vicinity of the incident.
— India in Oman (Embassy of India, Muscat) (@Indemb_Muscat) June 14, 2026
The Indian Embassy in Oman said it had received information about the incident involving the Indian-flagged vessel and was coordinating with Omani authorities. In a statement, the embassy said search and rescue operations were underway and were being managed by Omani authorities with support from ships operating in the nearby area.
Officials said efforts were continuing to safely recover the sailors and bring the rescue mission to a successful conclusion.
