In the early hours of October 18, 2025, a crisis erupted on the high seas off Yemen’s coast, as the Cameroonian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker MV Falcon suffered a catastrophic explosion and caught fire, leaving the vessel adrift in the volatile Gulf of Aden. The incident, which unfolded approximately 113 nautical miles southeast of the port of Aden, set off a frantic international rescue and salvage operation, thrusting the security of one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes back into the spotlight.
According to multiple maritime authorities and news agencies, including the Associated Press and Reuters, the MV Falcon was en route from Sohar Port in Oman to Djibouti, fully loaded with highly flammable LPG. The explosion, which occurred at around 07:00 to 07:50 GMT, ripped through the ship’s structure, igniting a blaze that quickly consumed about 15 percent of the vessel. Satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC confirmed the ship was ablaze at 07:50 GMT, with flames and smoke visible from miles away.
The immediate aftermath was chaotic. The crew, consisting primarily of Indian nationals—23 to 25, depending on various reports—and one Ukrainian officer, scrambled to contain the fire and send distress signals. British security firm Ambrey reported that radio communication from the Falcon indicated the crew was preparing to abandon ship as conditions worsened. The European Union’s naval mission, EUNAVFOR Aspides, under the command of Rear Admiral Andrea Quondamatteo, quickly responded to the mayday call. As flames continued to engulf the tanker, the rescue vessel MV MEDA managed to evacuate 24 crew members, who were later handed over safely to the Djiboutian Coast Guard. Tragically, two crew members remained missing and were presumed dead as of October 20, 2025.
Photographs released by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority showed the rescued mariners arriving ashore, visibly shaken but alive. The ship’s deck piping suffered extensive damage, as documented by images from the European Union’s Operation Aspides, though the vessel was not listing—a small mercy, given the risk of capsizing with a full load of LPG.
Initial reports from the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center suggested the Falcon had been “hit by an unknown projectile,” raising fears of yet another attack in a region plagued by maritime violence. The Gulf of Aden and the adjacent Bab el-Mandeb Strait are notorious for piracy and, more recently, for attacks linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have targeted commercial shipping in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, both the U.S. Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Center and EUNAVFOR Aspides later clarified, after interviewing survivors and reviewing evidence, that “the incident resulted from an explosion deemed as an accident and not caused by external factor/influence.” The Houthis, in a rare statement, also denied any involvement.
Despite the absence of foul play, the incident underscored just how precarious shipping through this corridor has become. The Falcon’s cargo—pressurized LPG—posed a grave risk of further explosions. Firefighting teams, supported by a private salvage contractor, worked tirelessly to cool the ship and prevent a catastrophic detonation. Authorities warned all vessels in the vicinity to keep a safe distance, with Aspides describing the Falcon as a “navigational hazard.” As of October 20, the tanker remained on fire and adrift, with salvage operations ongoing and the specter of environmental disaster looming.
The ramifications of the Falcon disaster extend far beyond the immediate tragedy. The Gulf of Aden is a critical artery for energy shipments to Asia and the Middle East. Any prolonged closure or diversion of traffic—such as rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope—would significantly increase freight costs and voyage times, a prospect that has already prompted insurers to reassess risk premiums for tankers transiting the region. Shipping operators are now reviewing whether to delay or divert upcoming energy cargoes through the corridor, wary of both natural and man-made threats.
Adding a layer of intrigue, the Falcon had previously been identified by United Against Nuclear Iran, a New York-based advocacy group, as allegedly being part of Iran’s so-called “ghost fleet”—a network of vessels accused of transporting sanctioned oil and petroleum products under flags of convenience. Automatic Identification System data reviewed by shipping analysts indicated the Falcon had called at Iran’s Assaluyeh terminal before loading at Sohar, raising fresh questions about the cargo’s insurance and the ship’s compliance with international sanctions frameworks. The vessel’s owners and operators, reportedly based in India, could not be reached for comment.
The broader context is hard to ignore. The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have been flashpoints for regional power struggles, piracy, and, more recently, the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war. While the Houthis have claimed responsibility for previous attacks on shipping in the region, their denial in this case, coupled with the findings of international investigators, points to the ever-present danger of accidents when transporting hazardous cargo through contested waters. As Reuters noted, the incident “renewed concern over energy-shipping security in the Red Sea corridor.”
For the families of the missing mariners and the survivors now recovering in Djibouti, the ordeal is a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who keep the global economy moving. As the salvage operation continues and authorities probe the exact cause of the explosion, one thing remains clear: the safety and security of maritime trade in the Gulf of Aden are as fragile—and as vital—as ever.
