Indonesian crew members return home after five-month Somali pirate captivity

Four Indonesian crew members from the tanker MT Honour 25 have returned home safely to Indonesia after being held hostage by Somali pirates for approximately five months. The crew members, including Captain Ashari Samadikun, arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday night, where they were met by Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Sugiono.

One crew member, Fiki Mutakin, required a wheelchair due to injuries sustained from gunfire during a rescue operation. The crew had been held since April 21, 2026, when the vessel was hijacked while transporting fuel oil.

Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya and Somalia, Witjaksono Adji, stated that the Indonesian government did not meet any of the pirates' demands, noting that complying with such demands would violate international regulations and encourage future piracy. Instead, Indonesia utilized diplomacy by maintaining dialogue with the Somali central government and the Puntland state authorities. The crew was ultimately rescued during an armed operation conducted by Puntland authorities on September 29, 2026.