World

Captured US Captain Foiled After Daring Escape Attempt

by Rob Walker | April 10, 2009 at 04:08 am

182 views | 32 Recommendations | 7 comments

Ships from both the US navy and pirate reinforcements are racing for the location where a captured US ship captain is being held. Four pirates have been holding Capt. Richard Phillips in a drifting lifeboat off Somalia's Indian Ocean coast since his crew repelled the attack on Wednesday.

While the United States sends more warships to the area, Somali pirates are on their way with a gallery of extra hostages. The pirates fear being shot or arrested if they return the captain.

The pirates apparently fear being shot or arrested if they hand over Capt. Richard Phillips -- captured in a failed effort to seize the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday -- and hope to link up with their colleagues who are using Russian, German, Filipino and other hostages captured in recent days as human shields.

Captain Phillips, 53, attempted to escape overnight on Thursday by diving into the water, but the pirates in the lifeboat managed to catch up to him and bring him back on board. US navy personnelwatched the drama unfold, but it was over too quickly for them to render any aid.

The escape attempt by Capt Richard Phillips was witnessed by a US navy ship nearby but happened too fast for it to come to his aid, NBC News says.

The daring overnight escape attempt by Capt. Richard Phillips was the Vermont sailor's latest bit of heroics in the four day old drama on the high seas 300 miles from the nearest coastline.

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Paschen

at 08:52 on April 10th, 2009

I am not sure if this is getting better on the horn of Africa or worth.

Some success was earlier with repelling pirates with the Joint Military intervention, however the numbers of ship taken is up again and now we have a new form of hostage taking.

Barry Artiste

at 09:22 on April 10th, 2009

If it were me, in future any so called Somalia boat in the ocean seen with rocket launchers and AK-47s should be blown out of the water immediately. After you don't fish with Rocket launchers and AK-47s now do you. Time to stop all this Nancy Boy diplomacy and kick some ass! That is the only way to stop all this!

Fred Miller

at 09:35 on April 10th, 2009

Uploaded CNN video to Amy Judd's earlier story

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/escapee-u-s-captain-back-somali-pirates-hostage

Fred Miller

at 09:38 on April 10th, 2009

Currently the hijackers' supporters are approaching with a number of International hostages on different ships, even as the U.S. forces get ready to square off with them.

Amy Judd

at 09:40 on April 10th, 2009

Apparently the pirates have called for back-up, according to what I just saw on CNN

Pythiian1

at 12:05 on April 10th, 2009

The pirates have their mother ship nearby as another US Navy ship is due to arrive to protect other cargo ships.

Blue Crush

at 12:07 on April 10th, 2009

"A Somali in contact with a pirate leader says the captors of a U.S. sea captain want a ransom and are ready to kill him if attacked." - read CBS News story.