New Delhi, November 11:

Indian navy commandos flying in a helicopter foiled an attempt by pirates Tuesday to hijack an Indian merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden.

The merchant vessel raised the alarm over the radio after pirates attempted to seize it, and an Indian warship patrolling nearby responded, a navy statement said.

A helicopter carrying the commandos intercepted the pirates’ vessel and prevented it from boarding the Indian merchant ship — MV Jag Arnav owned by India’s Great Eastern Shipping Ltd. “This timely and successful intervention led to the pirates aborting their attempt,” the navy statement said, adding the merchant ship was then escorted to safety.