New Images Show LPG Tanker Severely Damaged After Explosion Off Yemen

Update (Sunday):

The French military reported early Sunday that the LPG tanker MV Falcon caught fire following an onboard explosion. Aerial images released by French forces show the tanker severely damaged.

📍Gulf of Aden | On October 18th, the MV Falcon caught fire after an explosion onboard, putting the lives of the crew members at risk.

➡️ Participation of an ATL2 🇫🇷 in the Search & Rescue operation conducted by @EUNAVFORASPIDES 🇪🇺
🎯 Contribution to maritime rescue and freedom… https://t.co/vcctESqRwL pic.twitter.com/qfGGJQGoWW

— The 🇫🇷 Joint Staff – Military operations (@FrenchForces) October 19, 2025

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported earlier that Falcon’s maritime incident was caused by an “unknown projectile” about 116NM east of Aden, Yemen.
UKMTO stated in the advisory update that it “is still unable to confirm the source of the explosion, we cannot rule out an onboard accident.” 

Details about the vessel. 

An alleged image of the tanker on fire. 

#إيران #الحوثي
جبتلكن صورة الناقلة MV FALCON
المحمّلة بالغاز الإيراني، قصفها الحوثي بخليج عدن وهي في طريقها إليه🤦‍♂️

▪️المصيبة مش هون، المصيبة عندما نقول عنهم أغبياء.. يزعلون 😭 pic.twitter.com/xQFTXBEdjz

— Raymond Hakim (@RaymondFHakim) October 18, 2025

Some are reporting that an “American MQ-4C ‘Triton’ maritime surveillance drone” was patrolling the airspace “prior to the incident.” 

🇺🇸/🇮🇷/🇾🇪 NEW: An American MQ-4C ‘Triton’ maritime surveillance drone was patrolling the airspace around the Persian Gulf and Yemen hours prior to the incident of the Iranian-linked ‘MV Falcon’ tanker pic.twitter.com/Se9bvmX8GH

— GeoWatch (@GeoWatch4u) October 18, 2025

Mystery on the high seas… 

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UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a commercial vessel was struck by an “unknown projectile” approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) east of Aden, Yemen. Security firm Ambrey identified the vessel as the liquefied natural gas tanker MV Falcon.

UKMTO WARNING 036-25 UPDATE 001 – ATTACK – 18 OCT 25

Click here to view the full Advisory⤵️https://t.co/yo0ifPJJjr#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/YIvtfvr5rn

— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) October 18, 2025

Shipping analyst Tanker Trackers wrote on X:

The LPG tanker FALCON (9014432), which caught fire today in the Gulf of Aden, was laden with Iranian LPG from Assaluyeh after loading there on 2025-09-25. She was most likely heading to Ras Isa, Yemen; to supply the Houthis. This vessel was detained in January 2025 in Istanbul for 13 deficiencies. The Indian-owned, Cameroon-flagged tanker is 31 years old and 25/26 crew are accounted for. One person is still missing. No known insurer and she isn’t blacklisted by any government. 

The LPG tanker FALCON (9014432), which caught fire today in the Gulf of Aden, was laden with Iranian LPG from Assaluyeh after loading there on 2025-09-25. She was most likely heading to Ras Isa, Yemen; to supply the Houthis. This vessel was detained in January 2025 in Istanbul… pic.twitter.com/D1kUoUADVi

— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) October 18, 2025

The cause of the blast remains unclear, but rumors are already surfacing …

🚨🇮🇷 Indian tanker “FALCON”, carrying Iranian LPG hit by a submarine in the Gulf of Aden.
No one has claimed responsibility. pic.twitter.com/UEkcKKFFjG

— Terror Alarm (@Terror_Alarm) October 18, 2025

*Developing…