Narendra Yadav Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Mar 22, 2024

Narendra

Yadav

71

52

60 inches

125 lbs

Asian

Male

On December 8, 2004, a then 52-year-old crew member named Narendra Singh Yadav was aboard the M/V Selendang Ayu, a Malaysian-registered bulk cargo ship, when it fell into distress off the coast of Unalaska, Alaska. The vessel, carrying a large cargo of soybeans and a significant amount of fuel, suffered a catastrophic engine failure while navigating the treacherous waters of the Aleutian Islands. For two days, the ship was adrift in severe weather, with rescue and towing efforts hampered by the harsh conditions. The vessel ultimately ran aground near Spray Cape, leading to a desperate evacuation of the 26-person crew. The rescue operation was perilous, undertaken by United States Coast Guard helicopters in the midst of a fierce storm. Eighteen crew members were successfully airlifted from the foundering vessel. However, tragedy struck during the evacuation of the remaining crew. A Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter, having just lifted seven crew members, including Narendra Yadav, from the deck, was hit by a rogue wave. The wave caused the helicopter's engines to flame out, leading to a crash into the frigid Bering Sea. While the three Coast Guard personnel and one of the ship's crew members were rescued from the water by a second helicopter, Narendra Singh Yadav and five of his fellow crewmen were lost to the sea. The M/V Selendang Ayu broke in two shortly after the crash, resulting in a significant oil spill that impacted the sensitive marine environment of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. An extensive search and rescue operation was launched by the Coast Guard, covering hundreds of square miles of ocean and coastline. Despite their efforts, the search for Narendra Singh Yadav and the other five missing crew members was suspended on December 10, 2004, due to the extremely low probability of survival in the 43-degree water. The incident was a profound maritime tragedy, resulting in the loss of six lives and a significant environmental disaster. The case of Narendra Singh Yadav is a somber reminder of the dangers faced by those who work at sea and the unpredictable power of nature in the remote and rugged landscape of Alaska.

Dec 08, 2004

Unalaska

Alaska

Aleutians West Census Area

No

77224

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

040095117

2004-12-08

Alaska State Troopers

Black

Brown

Brown

07/03/2026