MANILA, Philippines — Two of the seven Filipino seafarers who were injured during a Middle East drone strike have officially been cleared to fly back to the Philippines. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that the repatriated crew members achieved full recovery, while the remaining five are safely recuperating at a medical facility in Oman.
The crew survived a targeted drone strike on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, which hit the Maltese-flagged container vessel CMA CGM San Antonio (initially misreported by some foreign media outlets as a French vessel) while it was actively transiting the highly volatile Strait of Hormuz.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) provided a detailed breakdown of the crew’s medical milestones, reassuring the public that all seven victims are now completely out of danger:
- Fit to Travel: Two seafarers received formal medical clearance and scheduled their arrival back in Manila on Friday, May 15. The DMW has intentionally withheld their exact arrival windows and flight profiles out of respect for their privacy following the trauma.
- The ICU Patient: The single most critical case—a crew member who initially had to be put on an artificial ventilator—has successfully been extubated. He is showing excellent signs of recovery in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and his condition is no longer considered life-threatening. Doctors expect to move him to a regular ward soon.
- Advanced Treatments: Two other crew members were medically airlifted from their initial treatment facility to a specialized hospital within Oman to undergo advanced, non-emergency corrective operations for their blast-related injuries.
- Regular Recovery: The remaining two seafarers continue to heal outside the ICU and are expected to secure their travel clearances within the coming weeks.
To ensure the welfare of the maritime workers and their families back home, the Philippine government has organized extensive logistical and financial buffers:
- Compassionate Family Visits: Secretary Cacdac announced that the DMW has fully funded and arranged “compassionate visits” for select family members. The government is flying these relatives directly to Oman so they can physically support the seafarers during their hospital confinement.
- Sustained Wages: The DMW confirmed that under standing maritime frameworks, all seven injured seafarers continue to receive their full salaries and regular family allotments without interruption while they undergo medical leaves.
- Diplomatic Gratitude: During the media briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, Cacdac extended formal thanks to the Sultanate of Oman for its rapid deployment of emergency medical teams and ongoing hospitality.
The targeted hit on the CMA CGM San Antonio highlights the escalating dangers looming over commercial shipping lanes in 2026. The Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime bottleneck responsible for a massive chunk of global oil and cargo transit—has seen severe security disruptions.
The drone attack directly follows regional military escalations, including localized blockades enforced after defensive exchanges involving international forces earlier in the quarter. The rising threat index has forced the DMW and local manning agencies to continuously review high-risk zone designations to safeguard thousands of Filipino mariners deploying globally.