Indian among 2 seafarers killed in Hormuz ship attack amid US-Iran spat at UNGA 2026
The cargo ship 'Cape Dao' had been travelling from the Port of Mina Saqr in the UAE to India when it had been attacked off the coast of Oman
The cargo ship 'Cape Dao' had been travelling from the Port of Mina Saqr in the UAE to India when it had been attacked off the coast of Oman.
The cargo ship 'Cape Dao' had been travelling from the Port of Mina Saqr in the UAE to India when it had been attacked off the coast of Oman.
The cargo ship 'Cape Dao' had been travelling from the Port of Mina Saqr in the UAE to India when it had been attacked off the coast of Oman.
At least one Indian national was killed on Wednesday after an attack on a cargo ship, the Cape Dao (IMO: 9219020), off the coast of Oman, even as Iran and the US dispute over the West Asia crisis at the United Nations General Assembly 2026.
The Indian Embassy in Oman condoled the attack, adding that it was closely coordinating with Omani authorities for the safety of the other 18 Indian crew members aboard the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged ship.
"We are closely monitoring the attack on MV Cape Dao today while transiting toward India, and are in close coordination with Omani authorities regarding the safety of all crew on board, including 19 Indian nationals," it wrote in an X post on Wednesday.
The ship had been travelling from the Port of Mina Saqr in the UAE to India when it had been attacked off the coast of Oman. The United Nations Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has flagged the incident under a red alert, saying that the vessel is "on fire and adrift".
Citing the ship's Company Security Officer (CSO), it added that the attack by an unknown projectile had led to two hits—one on the engine room and another on the C-deck (accommodation). The UKMTO added that this had led to two casualties in total, with the remainder of the crew evacuated by the Royal Navy of Oman.
The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) has identified the deceased Indian crew member as Suraj Yadav, a wiper from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh. It has also claimed that 20 of the ship's 28-member crew were Indian, unlike the Indian Embassy, which had said 19.
The seafarers's body has also written a letter to PM Modi, urging that Yadav's body be repatriated and seeking immediate intervention for "innocent civilian seafarers ... being slaughtered in and around Hormuz".
It has sought immediate accountability, safe passage and justice—not just for the killed seafarers, but also those who had been missing or trapped.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, also condoled the loss, adding that the government would ensure "the mortal remains of Suraj Yadav are brought home with full dignity, and every possible support is extended to his next of kin".
Sparks fly at UNGA 2026
The UNGA 2026 had been widely touted as the place where the first meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, would meet in person for the first time since the start of the war in the Gulf more than six months ago, and possibly negotiate an end to it.
However, that was not the case, with Pezeshkian's fiery UNGA speech lashing out at Trump's portrayal of Tehran as a terrorist state.
As he defended Iran being a victim—rather than a perpetrator—of terrorism, the US delegation walked out of the hall in protest.
"I come from an Iran where, in truth, they bombed a school. You see these children? These children perished under bombs with weapons used by the US and Israel They were innocent and had committed no crimes," he said, also holding up images of the victims of the Minab school attack.