Nine overseas Filipino seafarers stranded in Lebanon have returned safely to the Philippines after being caught in the conflict in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers said.
The seafarers, who were part of the crew of the M/V Hawk III, arrived aboard Emirates Flight EK332 after spending several months stranded in Lebanon.
According to the DMW, the vessel had been detained since October 2025, preventing the crew from returning home before escalating regional tensions further delayed their repatriation.
Upon arrival, the seafarers were welcomed by representatives of the Department of Migrant Workers, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and their manning agency. They received airport assistance and will be provided with post-arrival support and other reintegration services.
The DMW said it is awaiting confirmation of flight arrangements for 11 more Filipino seafarers who remain overseas and are expected to return to the Philippines.
The department said the repatriation was made possible through coordination among the DMW, OWWA, the Migrant Workers Office in Lebanon and the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, as part of the government’s continuing efforts to assist Filipinos affected by crises abroad.
