A US P-8 maritime patrol aircraft played a crucial role in the rescue of 14 Indian sailors whose vessel, the Indian-flagged Virat 1, sank approximately 80 nautical miles off the coast of Oman due to reported engine failure, with the aircraft dropping a life raft and coordinating assistance from the merchant vessel MV Jabal Ali 9, which then transported the crew to safety, a development that gained prominence following a recent incident where US strikes off the Oman coast resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors, an event India condemned as unacceptable.

A US P-8 maritime patrol aircraft played a crucial role in the rescue of 14 Indian sailors whose vessel, the Indian-flagged Virat 1, sank approximately 80 nautical miles off the coast of Oman due to reported engine failure, with the aircraft dropping a life raft and coordinating assistance from the merchant vessel MV Jabal Ali 9, which then transported the crew to safety, a development that gained prominence following a recent incident where US strikes off the Oman coast resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors, an event India condemned as unacceptable.

A US P-8 maritime patrol aircraft played a crucial role in the rescue of 14 Indian sailors whose vessel, the Indian-flagged Virat 1, sank approximately 80 nautical miles off the coast of Oman due to reported engine failure, with the aircraft dropping a life raft and coordinating assistance from the merchant vessel MV Jabal Ali 9, which then transported the crew to safety, a development that gained prominence following a recent incident where US strikes off the Oman coast resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors, an event India condemned as unacceptable.

The over 14 Indians onboard the Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel Virat 1, which sank off the Oman coast, found help from a US P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, which responded to the crisis by dropping a life raft near the vessel.

The incident came to light when the Indian Mission in Oman took to X to detail the rescue mission. According to the Embassy, the Virat 1 reportedly embarked with 14 Indian crew, and the rescue was being coordinated with the Omani authorities and vessels in the vicinity of the incident.

However, according to inputs from the US Navy, Virat 1 was sinking in position about 80 nautical miles from Ras Al Hadd on Sunday morning. The US Navy, on patrol in the region, received information that the vessel was in danger. The US Navy alerted shore authorities to launch the emergency response, while the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft responded to the crisis by dropping a life raft near the vessel.

The aircraft also coordinated surface assistance from a nearby merchant vessel, MV Jabal Ali 9, a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged ship. All Indians embarked on the life raft into the MV Jabal Ali 9.

Though the exact cause behind the sudden sinking of the dhow was not immediately known, the Embassy claimed the vessel experienced an engine failure.

The rescue initiated by the US Navy aircraft assumed significance in the wake of the incident involving the killing of three Indian sailors. The incident happened when a Palau-flagged vessel came under the US attack in the region. India responded promptly by summoning US charge d'affaires Jason Meeks.

The MEA condemned the incident, stating that the US's "lethal and deadly" strikes on commercial vessels with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman are "unacceptable" and they undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.

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