Sole Woman Among 17 Indian Crew Members On Ship Seized By Iran Returns Home

New Delhi: Ann Tessa Joseph, the sole woman crew member among 17 Indians on board an Israeli-affiliated container ship seized by Iran’s military near Strait of Hormuz in Gulf of Oman five days ago, returned home to Kerala on Thursday.

She was received at the airport by the Regional Passport Officer.

“With the concerted efforts of the Indian Mission in Tehran and the Iranian government, Indian deck cadet Ann Tessa Joseph from Kerala’s Thrissur, who was among the Indian crew members of container vessel MSC Aries, has landed safely at the Cochin International Airport today afternoon,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.

The Ministry further informed that Indian Mission in Tehran is in touch with the remaining 16 Indian crew members of the container vessel. The crew members are in good health and in contact with their family members in India, MEA said.

After Iran’s Revolutionary Guards took control of cargo ship ‘MSC Aries’ off the UAE coast on April 13, Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had sought the intervention of External Affairs Ministry to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals, including three from his state. But there was no mention of Joseph.

When her family said in a video telecast on TV channels that she was also among the crew, the state government took it up with the Centre, Indian Express reported.