A special aircraft carrying four injured Pakistani crew members of the hijacked MT Honour 25 and the mortal remains of three sailors landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Sunday.
Senior government officials were present at the airport to receive the returning crew members and oversee arrangements for the repatriation of the deceased sailors.
The injured crew members were identified as Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan. The remains brought back to Pakistan belonged to Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari.
They travelled aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694 after being transported from Djibouti through Addis Ababa.
Survivors return home
The injured crew members later emerged from Karachi Airport, where they were received by officials.
Speaking to the media, survivor Ameen bin Shams expressed relief at returning home.
“I feel very good to be back in my homeland,” he said.
Another injured sailor, Aqeel Khan, also expressed happiness at returning to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s ambassadors to Djibouti and Ethiopia had earlier seen off the crew members and accompanied the repatriation arrangements.
Three Pakistanis among five crew killed as Puntland frees hijacked tanker
Puntland forces free hijacked tanker
The repatriation follows an operation by Puntland authorities to free the MT Honour 25 after it was seized by pirates.
Puntland authorities said their forces rescued the tanker and captured 16 pirates during the operation.
Five crew members were killed in the incident, including three Pakistanis, while four others were injured.
The Palau-flagged tanker was hijacked on April 21, around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region.
There were 17 crew members aboard the vessel, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
The injured Pakistanis received medical treatment after being brought ashore, while Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Djibouti coordinated with Somali authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate their repatriation.
Pakistan’s Ambassadors to Djibouti and Ethiopia saw off the four injured Pakistani crew members of MT Honour 25, Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan, along with the mortal remains of Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari, from Addis Ababa.
They are arriving in Karachi today aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 4, 2026
Three Pakistanis remain aboard tanker
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on October 2 that three Pakistani crew members, Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain, remained aboard the vessel along with the captain.
Efforts were continuing to facilitate their safe return to Pakistan.
The development came a day after the Prime Minister’s Office said the remains of the three deceased Pakistani sailors had reached Addis Ababa, where preparations were being completed for their onward transportation to Karachi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the relevant authorities to complete the repatriation process at the earliest and assured the bereaved families of government assistance.
The prime minister also spoke by telephone with Azhan Kashif, son of deceased sailor Syed Kashif Umar, and expressed condolences over his father’s death.
Financial assistance announced for families
The government has announced Rs12.5 million in financial assistance for each family of the three Pakistani sailors killed during the recovery operation.
Shehbaz also announced free education and healthcare for their children, along with a house for each bereaved family.
The prime minister further directed authorities to provide the injured crew members with the best available medical treatment and continue efforts to secure the safe return of the remaining Pakistani sailors.
