FOUR Filipino crew members of MT Aqua 1 returned to the country Wednesday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
On April 1, 2026, the Panama-flagged oil tanker MT Aqua 1 was struck by an Iranian cruise missile approximately 17 nautical miles north of Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial Hub, resulting in damage above the waterline but no environmental leaks or oil spills. Despite the strike and a subsequent onboard fire, all 21 Filipino crew members remained uninjured and successfully extinguished the flames.
The DMW said in a statement Friday that the four seamen arrived via an unspecified commercial flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City.
They were the final batch of Filipino crew members to be repatriated. The four were greeted by staff of the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
The first batch of repatriated crew members arrived April 15, followed by another batch a week later.
“A total of 21 Filipino crew members were aboard a Panama-flagged oil/product tanker that was hit by a missile near the Ras Laffan Industrial Hub in Qatar on April 1, 2026. Despite the incident, none of the crew members were injured,” the DMW said.
“The government, led by the DMW, assured that the crew members will continue to receive the necessary support to help them restart their lives,” it added.
The DMW said around 1,200 seamen aboard various ships have already crossed out of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The DMW also continues to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino crew members on vessels that remain in the Persian Gulf due to the closure of the said passage,” it added. ARIC JOHN SY CUA
