The Ministry of Transportation Facilitates the Return of Three Indonesian Sailors Victims of a Ship Attack in the Arabian Sea

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - Three Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were victims of the MV Gold Autumn incident in the waters of the Arabian Sea have arrived in Indonesia. The repatriation was facilitated by the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) through the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs.

The three sailors, namely Adhelan Azhiz Fiqih, Robi Andika Saputra, and Farhan Setio Budi, arrived on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and were immediately picked up by government representatives.

Director of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Samsuddin, emphasized that the state was present in ensuring the safety and fulfillment of the rights of Indonesian sailors. He said the safety of Indonesian sailors was the top priority in every emergency handling.

"In any situation, the state ensures that Indonesian sailors are not left to face risks on their own. The handling is carried out quickly, coordinated, and thoroughly," said Samsuddin in an official statement, Tuesday, April 21.

Samsuddin said that before being repatriated, the sailors had undergone an evacuation and assistance process in Karachi by the ship management company, Shanghai Defeng Shipping Co., Ltd. Travel documents that were lost due to the incident have also been reissued through coordination with Indonesian representatives and related parties.

"The handling of this case is the result of good coordination between the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate of Shipping and Maritime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Directorate of Protection of Indonesian Citizens, and the KJRI Karachi," he said.

For information, the incident that befell the MV Gold Autumn occurred on April 8, 2026 when the ship was sailing in the Arabian Sea. The ship was reported to have suffered a missile attack that triggered a fire in the cargo hold, followed by a subsequent attack that damaged the accommodation and bridge areas.

This condition forced the crew to carry out an emergency evacuation using a lifeboat. However, the engine failure made them temporarily adrift in the open sea before they were finally found by the MV Eunice and rescued.

Samsuddin emphasized that the handling was not only focused on evacuation, but also on fulfilling the rights of sailors in a comprehensive manner.

"This handling is not only focused on evacuation, but also ensures that all sailors' rights are met, ranging from safety, administration, to the responsibilities of related parties," he said.

The government through the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs is committed to continue to strengthen the protection of Indonesian sailors, especially in facing the risk of sailing in international waters.

"We will continue to strengthen the system of protection for Indonesian citizens (WNI) through supervision, cross-sector coordination, and preparedness in facing emergency conditions," he concluded.