Missing Fisherman Found Safe After Overnight Search; MNDF TB2 Drone Was Deployed for Seven Hours

A fisherman reported missing from R. Vaadhoo after failing to return from a solo fishing trip has been found safe near a buoy off Alifushi on Friday morning, following an extensive overnight search operation that included the deployment of an MNDF Bayraktar TB2 drone.

Mohamed Iqbal, a resident of Vaadhoo, went out alone in a small dinghy on Thursday morning. When he did not return by nightfall and could not be contacted and having left without a mobile phone; his family alerted authorities at 20:48.

Search teams from Vaadhoo joined the Maldives Police Service and MNDF in the overnight operation. At approximately 06:53 on Friday, Iqbal was located near a buoy close to Alifushi. His dinghy had suffered an engine failure, leaving him adrift through the night. Police confirmed he was found in good health and safely returned to Vaadhoo.

The Maldives National Defence Force Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle was deployed to support the search effort. The drone remained airborne for seven hours, providing wide‑area surveillance and assisting teams in narrowing down the fisherman’s possible drift path.

The Maldives Police Service thanked the public for their cooperation and emphasized the importance of carrying communication equipment when going out to sea. Despite repeated warnings, solo fishing without proper safety gear remains common across many islands.