Muscat, Oman—An airborne maritime drone struck a commercial oil tanker transiting international shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a heavy fire and leaving two mariners missing in open waters.
Emergency naval units and regional coast guard cutters rushed to the scene after the vessel issued distress signals following the sudden detonation on its upper starboard deck.
The blast tore through auxiliary machinery spaces, sparking localized blazes that crew members struggled to contain using fixed onboard firefighting systems before naval tugs arrived.
Naval search-and-rescue aircraft deployed from nearby coastal bases to sweep surrounding waters for the two missing sailors, who were thrown overboard by the initial shockwave.
Surviving crew members confirmed that the unmanned aerial craft approached low over the water without warning, striking the vessel directly near its primary living quarters.
"The entire superstructure shook as smoke poured through the lower corridors," reported an officer aboard a nearby vessel that responded to the Mayday call. "Crew members immediately deployed liferafts into heavy seas while trying to fight the deck fires."
International maritime monitoring bodies issued immediate navigation warnings for commercial shipping across the strategic chokepoint, urging captains to maintain high-speed transit protocols.
Naval escorts arrived on site hours after the impact to stabilize the drifting tanker and secure its remaining cargo bulkheads from secondary breaches.
Maritime intelligence analysts emphasize that recent uncoordinated strikes against commercial logistics channels pose severe risks to crude transit stability throughout regional waterways.
Search-and-rescue sweeps continue across surrounding coastal sectors as naval vessels maintain perimeter defense around the compromised tanker.
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