Exclusive: Distress call, silence, bunker video: Family reveals ordeal of Pakistani hostage crew on Honour 25

• Ten Pakistanis among 17 crew; family describes last contact, days of silence, food shortage and armed captivity after April 21 hijacking

LAHORE: In an exclusive talk with Pakistan Today, family of a Pakistani crew member aboard the hijacked vessel Honour 25 has revealed detailed accounts of the moments leading up to the seizure, the days of silence that followed, and a brief video call from captivity showing the conditions in which the hostages are being held.

According to the family, the first indication of the attack came on April 21 at approximately 4:30pm, when they received a text message from their relative, reading “Agaye Pirates” (Pirates are here) signalling that the vessel had come under immediate threat.

They said all communication stopped after that message, leaving the family without any information for the next two to three days, during which they attempted to reach other crew families but were unable to establish contact or verify the situation.

After eventually obtaining a contact for another crew member’s family, they said the response was uncertain and lacked confirmation, as no one had independent proof of the hijacking at that stage.

The family then contacted the UK Maritime Trade Operations seeking assistance, but initially received no confirmation regarding the vessel’s status.

They said a follow-up email led to a call from a Bahrain-based number, where a caller identifying himself as associated with the organisation confirmed that reports of the hijacking had been received but stated that the ship’s location could not be determined and no operational updates were available.

During this period, the family said they turned to media outlets and social platforms to raise awareness, as official information remained limited and contact with the crew had not resumed.

They said communication was briefly re-established on April 24, when they received a video call from their relative, who showed them what appeared to be a confined bunker where multiple crew members were being held.

According to the family, the crew member stated during the call that the hostages did not know the purpose of their detention, whether ransom was being sought, or what demands, if any, had been made by the attackers.

They said he also reported a shortage of food and described the presence of heavily armed individuals, claiming that the attackers possessed large quantities of weapons including AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled systems.

The family said sounds resembling gunfire could be heard in the background during the call, which ended abruptly, after which no further contact has been made.

They stated that the crew member indicated the phone had been temporarily returned by the attackers to allow brief communication with families, with connectivity enabled through satellite signals.

Since April 24, the family said they have not received any further updates directly from the hostage and remain without confirmation of his current condition or location.

They said some government officials have contacted them and assured assistance, but no concrete developments have been communicated so far.

According to the family, the shipping company has created a WhatsApp group to share updates with relatives of those onboard, although they said information remains limited and largely unchanged.

The vessel, which departed from Oman and was en route to Somalia carrying approximately 18,500 barrels of oil, had a crew of 17, including 10 Pakistani nationals, when it was hijacked by suspected Somali pirates.

The family has called for immediate action and clearer communication, stating that they are seeking verified information regarding the safety and status of all crew members still believed to be in captivity.