How Indian Navy commandos airdropped into pirate waters to save hijacked vessel
10948913 Indian Navy rescue
- ✓10948913 Indian Navy rescue
- ✓They saved all 20 crew members, mostly Iranian nationals, from the pirates without a single casualty or injury.
- ✓Marine commandos were parachuted into the area via a precision airdrop executed by an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft.
- ✓The commandos stormed and secured the vessel, neutralised the pirate threat, and safely freed the 20-man crew, the statement said.
In a 48-hour rescue operation involving a warship and continuous surveillance, Indian Navy's marine commandos airdropped and stormed into a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel off the northeastern coast of Somalia. They saved all 20 crew members, mostly Iranian nationals, from the pirates without a single casualty or injury.
According to the Navy statement Tuesday, the vessel, Azini, had been seized by an armed pirate group earlier last month, raising alarms across international shipping lanes over fears it would be turned into a "mother ship" to launch further pirate raids across the region.
The Navy tasked a mission-deployed warship to intervene, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. “Working in close coordination, these platforms located the vessel after persistent surveillance, tracked its movements and employed calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement and prevent its escape,” the Navy stated.
Marine commandos were parachuted into the area via a precision airdrop executed by an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft. The commandos stormed and secured the vessel, neutralised the pirate threat, and safely freed the 20-man crew, the statement said.
The Navy said the successful operation is a testament to its high operational preparedness and ability to undertake complex maritime security operations through seamless inter-service coordination, while underscoring India’s unwavering commitment to remaining First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
“The Indian Navy stands committed to safeguarding seafarers, protecting vital maritime trade routes and ensuring a safe, secure and stable maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region,” the statement added. In a separate statement, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi said it expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of India, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force for their successful operation to rescue the 20 Iranian crew members of the fishing vessel Azini from pirates.
“We highly commend the professionalism, courage and effective coordination demonstrated by the Indian Armed Forces, reflecting India's strong commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and its role in saving lives beyond borders,” it said.
It noted that the humanitarian operation stands as a testament to the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Iran and India, adding that it extends sincere gratitude to all those involved in ensuring the safe rescue of the Iranian crew.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of India, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force for their successful operation to rescue the 20 Iranian crew members of the fishing vessel Azini from pirates.
We highly commend the professionalism, courage and effective coordination demonstrated by the Indian Armed Forces, reflecting India's strong commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and its role in saving lives beyond borders.
This humanitarian operation stands as a testament to the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Iran and India. We extend our sincere gratitude to all those involved in ensuring the safe rescue of the Iranian crew.
— Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) November 3, 2026 The Indian Navy has periodically responded to similar incidents over recent years. Earlier this year in July, INS Trikand, a mission-deployed stealth frigate of the Indian Navy operating in the Gulf of Aden, responded to a piracy attempt on MV Golden Arsenal, a St Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged bulk carrier carrying a crew of 21.
The merchant vessel was transiting from Aden, Yemen, when it reported an attempted pirate attack approximately 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti. The Navy responded to multiple piracy-related incidents from December 2023 to the early months of 2024 under Operation Sankalp.
Amrita Nayak Dutta writes on defence and national security as part of the national bureau of The Ind... Read More
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| Issuing Authority | The Indian Express National |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | WORLD |
| Jurisdiction | All India / National |
| Publication Date | 3 November 2026 |