Update: Navy Seals Rescue Captain, 3 Pirates Dead

Capt. Richard Phillips, right, stands with U.S. Navy Cmdr. Frank Castellano after the rescue

Update: Maersk Alabama container ship Captain Richard Phillips was rescued by Navy Seals. CNN reports, "The American cargo ship captain held hostage by pirates jumped overboard Sunday from the lifeboat where he was being held, and U.S. Navy SEALs shot and killed three of his four captors, according to a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the situation." Phillips was taken to the destroyer U.S.S. Bainbridge and "was then flown by helicopter to another Navy ship, and has contacted his family and received a routine medical examination," according to the NY Times.

The Maersk line spoke on behalf of the captain's family, “This is truly a very happy Easter for the Phillips family. They are all just so happy and relieved.” And President Obama said was happy that Phillips was rescued and called his courage was a "model for all Americans".

Earlier: With their captain still a hostage of four Somali pirates on a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean, the crew of container ship Maersk Alabama told reporters, "Captain Phillips is a hero," after the ship docked in Kenya. The crew had managed to retake the ship from the pirates who attacked them in the Horn of Africa, but Captain Richard Phillips (pictured) offered himself as a hostage to prevent violence (the pirates had AK-47s). Somali elders were attempting to help negotiate with U.S. authorities, but the NY Times reports that the discussions have broken down, because "American officials insisted that the pirates be arrested" while the elders have refused. The pirates, who are demanding $2 million as well, also fired upon a Navy vessel that tried to approach the lifeboat yesterday; the Naval ship did not fire back.

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By Jen Chung in News on April 12, 2009 4:18 PM

Comments [rss]

armystud1327

balumbum, how are you going to listen to Al Jazeera? That's like the international terrorist Underground Railroad. their news reports have key phrases that are code words to launch planned out attacks against soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Al Jazeera does nothing but aids terrorists, and shows American soldiers getting killed, and tortured, and decapitated...take a deep breath and think about who is writing the articles from Al Jazeera, you are reading. TERRORISTS, or Arabs that either aid or know the whereabouts of terrorists that they are unwilling to disclose and hand over to the Americans...THAT'S THE TRUTH ABOUT AL JAZEERA!

armystud1327

Just because the SEALs are there, doesn't really mean anything. Yeah they are highly trained, just the the Army Special Forces or the Marine Force Recon, or the Air Force Air Controllers, but that doesn't make them invincible. You can't just jump into a firefight and expect to win. Do I think we should negotiate? NO! I'm an Infantryman with the 101st airborne Division. I've seen combat so many times I've lost count. I may not be a General but why is the US negotiating with these Somali terrorists? What makes them any different than Al Queda or the Taliban? Nothing. But look at the present wars, they are all but forgotten. Troop morale is low, the media doesn't cover EITHER war like it should, and what coverage does get posted, is usually inaccurate. I firmly believe we should go back to Somali, but in due time. Let's finish these two wars first. But I FIRMLY believe action has to be taken against the Somali terrorists. After all, we are engaged in a Global War on Terror, are we not?

mdow

Well done, SEALs. As was said earlier, awesome freakin job. Snipers on a boat, mf'ers.

Seriously happy for the captain and his family.

aveB4life

if we sent jack bauer in the first place, this would have been over a long time ago...

phatbenetar

target practice...

phatbenetar

yarg.

balumbum

How was any of this great? 3 people are dead. It is also being reported that the pirates may have been handing the captain over with no ransom or violence. Now it is also being reported that the Somali pirates will target Americans in the area ( http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/04/200941373925842364.html ). That's just what we need is more people to hate us. I do understand that it is a relief for the family. That the captain is back safe for them is great, but this doesn't do anything to address why the pirates are doing what they are doing. And NO! War with Somalia or pirates is not the answer.

Global Wombat

It is also being reported that the pirates may have been handing the captain over with no ransom or violence.

Because the words of a quote, PIRATE CHIEF, can be relied upon, yes? And being opportunists, I think the pirates will take advantage of anyone that they deem to be fresh meat. Retaliation? Please - there's no nationalistic mantra for these guys to follow, or any other guiding cause that would allow themselves to get shot up to the consistency of chum.

JRod5417

An amazing result! Hopefully, pirates will be less willing to engage in these activities based on this example.

Felix Hoenikker

Great job USN, as always.

Sadly, I'll pull a SWAG out of my ass and say the Navy operation cost more than all ransom paid up to this point.

This is another circumstance of a private industry 'socializing' cost of its risk to government.

Next look for downgrades in armored car costs by using open pickup trucks and ex-pizza delivery boys....or banks skimping on bullet resistant glass and other barriers for its tellers.

Invading Somalia would be an awful idea. Nation building is a costly exercise in futility. Limited military strikes on known pirate bases would be effective, sufficient, and certainly much easier than attempting to civilize Iraq or Pakganistan.

pk4l

Nobody fuck with the Navy!!!

JacqueMehoff

awesome freakin job.

Snipers on a boat mf'ers.

arrowman2317

Thank you, to the U.S. Navy! Congratulations on the sucessful mission. Prayers are answered for the Phillips family.

Minutes of angle were in the seconds, and the men involved were of the best of the best, "what more can you ask for"?

babyhitler

It'll be like Zizzou in The Life Aquatic.

freddynyc

Good timing on this Easter Sunday!

verbal

Awesome job.

sj

Love it. Would love to hear some specifics of how the op went down. And no one can say that the pirates weren't offered every chance to surrender, be arrested, and walk away with their lives. They chose...poorly.

Spirit of 76

According to the news, SEAL snipers on the destroyer had rifles trained on the lifeboat all the time. When all three of the fools showed themselves at the hatch at the same time, the snipers took the shots.

And this was all authorized by Obama days ago. So much for all the armchair hawks around here who called Obama gutless. Good things come to those who wait.