According to the British media, no casualties were reported in the attack, but the plane was damaged.
The merchant vessel was last contacted in Saudi Arabia and was in Indian waters at that time.
After the attack, the Indian Navy is conducting operations in the area, but no details regarding the operation have been provided to the media.
This latest incident has taken place after the drone and missile attacks of the Houthis in the Red Sea.
They say they are aiding the Palestinians in Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip. These attacks are forcing commercial ships to divert and take longer routes from the southern tip of Africa.