Captain Phillips Is Free & On Board the USS Boxer According to CNN, Captain Richard Phillips has been freed after a 5-day ordeal. He has been flown by helicopter to the USS Boxer since first coming on board the USS Bainbridge. He has already undergone routine medical examination on the USS Boxer.
Three of the pirates were killed by the U.S. Navy SEALs and the fourth one is currently in custody.
The Maesrsk Alabama and its crew has already reached Mombasa, Kenya on Saturday as reported and updated by NP Amy Judd.
Apparently, his family in Massachusetts was reportedly informed about Captain Phillips's release prior to the breaking news on television.
Phillips was rescued at 7:19 p.m. (12:19 p.m. ET), according to the Navy. The Maersk Line Limited, owner of the cargo ship that Phillips captained, issued a statement saying it was informed at 1:30 p.m. by the U.S. government that he had been rescued. John Reinhart, president and CEO, called Phillips' wife, Andrea, to tell her the good news.
The official said Capt. Richard Phillips is uninjured and in good condition, and that three of the four pirates were killed. The fourth pirate is in custody. Phillips was taken aboard the USS Bainbridge, a nearby naval warship.
Additional details about the rescue of Captain Phillips have emerged while he is resting on the USS Boxer, which included the authorization by President Obama given to the Captain of the USS Bainbridge.
Acting with President Obama’s authorization and in the belief that the hostage, Capt. Richard Phillips, was in imminent danger of being killed by captors armed with pistols and AK-47s, snipers on the fantail of the destroyer Bainbridge, which was towing the lifeboat on a 100-foot line, opened fire and picked off the three captors.
According to Vice Admiral William Gortney, Commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, in a briefing for reporters, the Navy SEALs involved in the rescue flew in from U.S Fifth Fleet headquarter.
They had parachuted from an aircraft into the scene near dark on Saturday, landing in the ocean. The SEALs were part of a larger group of Special Operations Forces involved in the rescue effort.
SEAL snipers, who were positioned on a deck at the stern of the Bainbridge, an area known as the fantail, had the three pirates in their sights. The on-scene commander gave the SEAL snipers authority to fire.
A member of the Special Operations team slid down the tow line into the water and climbed aboard the lifeboat. Phillips was then put in a small craft and taken to the Bainbridge.
Scheduled official press conference by the Navy Department was held late afternoon on Apr. 12.
This writer invites others to provide additional updates as the story enfolds.
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Fred Miller
Friendswood, Texas, United States
Tamiya
Voth, Texas, United States
danesller0127
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
Yuliya Talmazan
Burnaby, Canada
Barry ORegan
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Barbara McPherson
Nanaimo, Canada
Jennings David L
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Karen Hatter
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Sign in to NowPublic
Truemors
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (27)
at 10:05 on April 12th, 2009
Hooray and what a wonderful Easter for the families of the Captain and the crew of the Alabama !
at 06:14 on April 13th, 2009
Thank you to those who recommended and participated in the conversation about this evolving rescue story.
at 10:09 on April 12th, 2009
This is great news. Kudos to the rescuers - the Navy Seals!
(In reading about this ongoing problem, I was stunned to read that there are still 249 hostages being held by Somali pirates.)
at 13:38 on April 12th, 2009
Sara, Thanks for the clarification -- thanks to all involved in the rescue, including the Navy, the Coast Guard and others. Heroes, one and all... D.
at 18:23 on April 12th, 2009
Thank you, Sara, for your input, recommendation, and video clip.
at 11:58 on April 12th, 2009
Thanks for everything !
at 18:21 on April 12th, 2009
Thank you, Fred Miller, for your photo, comment, and recommendation.
at 12:26 on April 12th, 2009
Lovely - am so glad this was the outcome, thanks for this story.
at 18:22 on April 12th, 2009
Thank you, Amy, for your comment and recommendation.
at 13:40 on April 12th, 2009
Great to hear the good news.
at 18:19 on April 12th, 2009
Thanks so much, Yuls.source, for your comment and recommendation.
at 13:41 on April 12th, 2009
Guess the three pirates taken out will be a lesson to others who think the USA is an easy touch for Ransom. Glad to see the Captain is safe and sound.
at 18:20 on April 12th, 2009
Thank you, Barry Artiste, for your comment and recommendation.
at 14:34 on April 12th, 2009
Something good to hear for a change.
Happy endings are good for the soul.
at 18:16 on April 12th, 2009
Thank you, Tamiya, for your comment and recommendation.
at 15:10 on April 12th, 2009
What sad day for the Republicans, if Captian Phillips had died the GOP could have blamed Obama and the closing of Gitmo.
Sorry to ruin your Easter, GOP.
at 15:29 on April 12th, 2009
Excellent news, we need to see more actions to prevent this piracy.
at 18:16 on April 12th, 2009
Thank you, Jennings David L., for your comment and recommendation.
at 15:31 on April 12th, 2009
They have to ask the President each time they want to act? How would he be in the best place to know, given he's 1000's of miles away? He should've signed off authority to the captain on the scene from the first minute, surely. Talk about micro-management...
at 06:16 on April 13th, 2009
These orders are based on the rule of law of the United States during any operation in international water, and not from some quirks of any individual President of the United States. Even in the old days when there weren't any satellite access for instant communication, the military is still required to get and receive permission from the President.
Further information can be found in the library or university about United States history, the US Presidency, the military operation, and rules of engagement.
at 15:37 on April 12th, 2009
The outcome of the standoff makes me want to do some flag waving! Good job, USS Bainbridge crew and all involved. I say a fitting end to the captured pirate would be a public pirate's execution ... either hang him from the yardarm or let him walk the plank. An end to this pirate-ing must come right away. It's absurd and embarrasing that this has gone on for as long as it has. And now innocent crewmembers have been killed. Let's blow them out of the water before they can even approach another ship. And Captain Phillips - you, too, made your fellow Americans proud.
at 18:26 on April 12th, 2009
Good to see the captain released, essentially unharmed.
at 19:37 on April 12th, 2009
Thank you, Barbara McPherson, for your comment and recommendation. I appreciate your interest in the story.
at 03:02 on April 13th, 2009
Pure supposition here, but for what it's worth: I believe action wasn't taken until the evening the snipers parachuted onto the warship. So I think the timing was probably not instigated by the imminent threat. More likely by the soonest atmospheric conditions (i.e. nightfall). The snipers might have some new super-duper scope they keep a military secret that can see "through" objects like the thin coloured fiberglass walls allowing them to headshot the 3 pirates. Unless all 3 were stupid enough to all stick their heads outside at the same time... and I doubt that, hence my claim. The imminent threat story is a misdirection by the military to keep their secret safe. I have read solid reports they have a device that can detect the bio-electrical pulse of the human heart through even several feet of concrete...
at 09:29 on April 13th, 2009
Pirates vow to avange deaths after U.S. Navy Seals rescued Capt. Phillips
A great cry of anger, coupled with vows of vengeance, rose up from the pirate lairs hidden around theHorn of Africa after Capt. Richard Phillips' rescue.
"From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill [the hostages]."
(source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_pirates_vow_to_avenge_deaths.html)
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Haha-ha!!! Do you think they will succeed?
Thanks again! Pythiian1 :D
at 15:06 on April 13th, 2009
Thank you, danesller0127, for your recommendation. I appreciate your read, input, and comments.
at 09:24 on April 14th, 2009
THE NEWS CONTINUES......
Somali pirates hijack 4 ships, take 60 hostages
Somali pirates captured four more ships and took more than 60 crew members hostage in a brazen hijacking spree, while the American captain who escaped their grip planned to reunite with his crew and fly home Wednesday to the United States.
Pirates have vowed to retaliate for five colleagues slain by U.S. and French forces in hostage rescues in the last week, and the top U.S. military officer said Tuesday he takes those comments seriously...
The laest seizures were the Lebanese-owned cargo ship MV Sea Horse, the Greek-managed bulk carrier MV Irene E.M. and two Egyptian fishing boats. Maritime officials said the Irene carried 21 to 23 Filipino crew and the International Maritime Bureau reported 36 fishermen, all believed to be Egyptian, on the two boats.
It was not known exactly how many crew the Sea Horse had, but a ship that size would probably need at least a dozen sailors...
(source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy)