2 seafarers from drone-hit ship set to come home, 5 others recovering

2 seafarers from drone-hit ship set to come home, 5 others recovering
Philippine News Agency / May 16, 2026 https://globalnation.inquirer.net/323272/2-seafarers-from-drone-hit-ship...(direct)&utm_medium=gallery

MANILA, Philippines – Two of the seven Filipino seafarers injured in the drone attack on Malta-flagged container vessel MV San Antonio at the Strait of Hormuz on May 5 have recovered and are returning to the country on Friday, according to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

In a media briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday, Cacdac assured the remaining five Filipino crew members of the container vessel who were injured due to the drone attack are now also safe and recuperating at a hospital in Oman.

“The good news is everyone is recuperating. May dalawa sa kanila na nabigyan na ng fit to travel at makakauwi na (Two of them were deemed fit to travel and they are returning home), and they will be arriving today,” he said.

But due to the incident, Cacdac said the DMW will not disclose the arrival details of the two returning seafarers to respect their privacy after their ordeal.

Meanwhile, he said that two other crew members were airlifted from one hospital in Oman to another, for further treatment, but assured that both are in a stable condition and are out of danger.

“This is just for purposes of further treatment. So that’s four out of seven. Yung isa, na sabihin na nating nung una na pinaka malalang kaso, naka-intubate pero na-extubate na and recovering also well, although he remains in ICU, but ang ulat ay hindi na life-threatening ang kanyang sitwasyon (The other one, let’s say, initially the most severe case, was intubated but has been extubated and is also recovering well, although he remains in the ICU, but the report is that his situation is no longer life-threatening),” Cacdac said.

He said that doctors are hopeful the seafarer can soon be transferred from the ICU to a regular hospital ward.
Lastly, the remaining two, Cacdac said, also continue to recover outside the ICU and are expected to be declared fit to travel after full recovery.

He said the DMW has met with the families of the seven seafarers after they were flown to Manila earlier this week for meetings and to receive updates on the condition and treatment of their relatives.

“Merong ilang family members na dadalaw sa kanila sa ospital, yung tinatawag na compassionate visit. So dadalhin natin ng ilang family members para makadalaw mismo dun sa ospital na kinaroonan nila (Some family members will visit them in the hospital, it’s called compassionate visit. So we will bring some family members to visit them directly at the hospital where they are),” he said.

During the briefing, Cacdac also expressed gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for providing medical care and assistance to the Filipino crew members.

He assured that all seven injured seafarers continue to receive their salaries and family allotments under their contracts despite being hospitalized.

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He also expressed hope that all the Filipino seafarers would eventually return home and receive support from the government. /dm