14 Filipino seafarers return home

Fourteen Filipino seafarers who were among crew members rescued by Bulgarian authorities after their container ship was hit by three maritime drones in the Black Sea have safely returned to the Philippines.

The seafarers arrived at Clark International Airport on Monday, 2 November, aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR926 from Doha, Qatar, following the repatriation efforts.

According to reports, the ship was heading to Constanța, Romania from Haifa, Israel when it was struck by three maritime drones on 28 October.

All 18 crew members—14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians—were safely evacuated with the assistance of the Bulgarian Navy and border police vessels and brought them to the city of Varna for medical checks.

According to the Bulgarian Maritime Administration, the ship eventually sank.

Following the incident, the Filipino crew members temporarily stayed at a hotel in Varna while undergoing interviews by Bulgarian authorities and awaiting the completion of their repatriation arrangement.

Upon their arrival in Clark, the OWWA Regional Welfare Office III provided airport assistance and stands ready to deliver other post-repatriation services to meet their needs upon returning to the country.