21/10/2025
LPG Tanker Falcon Ablaze Off Aden, Crew Missing
The LPG tanker Falcon, sailing under the Cameroon flag, remains on fire and adrift in the Gulf of Aden after an explosion occurred on 18 October 2025. The vessel was reportedly carrying liquefied petroleum gas from Sohar, Oman to Djibouti when the blast happened approximately 110 to 116 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen.
A total of 26 crew members were on board at the time of the incident, consisting mostly of Indian nationals along with one Ukrainian. Maritime authorities confirmed that 23 to 24 of them were rescued by nearby merchant vessels that responded to the distress signal. Two crew members remain unaccounted for, and one is believed to still be on board the ship as it continues to burn.
The exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. Initial reports from the ship’s security officer suggested that the tanker might have been struck by an external projectile. However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) later reclassified the situation from a security alert to an advisory, noting that an onboard mechanical failure or operational accident cannot be ruled out.
The Falcon is currently unmanned, still on fire, and drifting in open waters. With highly flammable LPG in its cargo tanks, the vessel poses a serious risk of further explosions, environmental pollution, and navigational danger to passing ships. Maritime authorities and naval forces in the region are monitoring the vessel and evaluating options for salvage and fire control.
This incident has once again drawn attention to the security and safety challenges in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea corridor, a strategic maritime route that has seen increased tension and previous attacks on commercial vessels. Shipping companies are expected to review their security measures and remain on high alert while transiting these waters.
