Capt Phillips family was informed of his release hours before it became official The captain of a US cargo ship taken hostage by Somali pirates has been released and is safe, the US Navy says. Three pirates were killed in the operation to free Captain Richard Phillips after being held in a lifeboat for several days. Captain Phillips was "resting comfortably" aboard a US warship after a medical check-up, a spokesman for the Navy's 5th Fleet said. He was seized when pirates attacked his ship, the Maersk Alabama, on Wednesday. On Friday he failed in an attempt to swim free. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The order for US snipers to kill the pirates came when "the on-scene [US navy] commander determined that the captain was in imminent danger," Vice Admiral William Gortney, head of the US Naval Central Command, said in a Pentagon briefing from Bahrain. "He had a weapon aimed at him - that would be my interpretation of imminent danger," said Admiral Gortney. After the pirates had been shot, troops sailed to the lifeboat and released Capt Phillips, who was tied up inside it. US forces apparently took advantage of the fact that one of the pirates was negotiating on a US Navy vessel when the incident happened. The surviving pirate is now in US military custody and "being cooperative" according to the navy. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Capt Phillips was initially taken on board the USS Bainbridge, a warship sent to track the pirates holding him, before being flown to the USS Boxer for a medical examination, navy spokesman Lt Nathan Christensen told AP. Somali elders had been trying to resolve the standoff but most recent reports had suggested the talks had stalled, apparently because US officials were insisting that the pirates be arrested and brought to justice. 'Model for Americans' "At approximately 7.19 pm (1619 GMT) US naval forces rescued Capt Richard Phillips, the master of Motor Vessel Maersk-Alabama," a statement from US Naval Forces Central Command said. "US military forces have one pirate in custody, three were killed in the rescue," it said. This could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it
Vice Adm Gortney
How Captain Phillips was rescued Central Commander Vice Admiral Bill Gortney paid tribute to "an incredible team effort" and said he was "extremely proud of the tireless efforts of all the men and women who made this rescue possible." US President Barack Obama said he was very pleased that Capt Phillips had been rescued and that his courage was a "model for all Americans". He said he was resolved to deal with the threat of piracy in the region. Admiral Gortney acknowledged that the military end to this hostage incident may raise the stakes for pirates in the region. "This could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it." MAJOR PIRATE INCIDENTS Ukrainian ship MV Faina seized on 25 September 2008, held until 5 February 2009 Saudi tanker Sirius Star held for two months from November 2008; a $3m ransom was negotiated At least 15 pirate attacks reported to International Maritime Bureau during March 2009 The 32,500-tonnSources at the ship's owne Malaspina Castle, UK-owned but operated by Italians, seized on 6 April 2009.
Growing sophistication of pirates Q&A: Somali piracy Profile: Capt Richard Phillips Reading a statement on behalf of Capt Phillips' wife Andrea, a spokeswoman for ship owner Maersk Line Ltd said the family was "happy and relieved". "This is truly a very happy Easter for the family," the statement said. The head of Maersk praised the captain's behaviour. "He's a leader of men... he exhibited the true spirit of an American," John Reinhart told reporters. He said Capt Phillips had told him: "I'm just the byline, the heroes are the Navy seals who brought me home." Mr Reinhart added that it was time to bring both captain and crew home, and that this would be done "in the next couple of days". The ship's crew are currently in the Kenyan port of Mombasa, being questioned by US federal agents. Crew members put a US flag over the side of the ship, whistled, pumped their fists in the air and fired off a red flare, AP said. 'Indebted' They have hailed Capt Phillips as a hero, saying he offered himself as a hostage in order to save them when the Maersk Alabama was attacked. The Maersk Alabama was carrying aid bound for Somalia when attacked Joseph Murphy, the father of the ship's chief officer, Shane Murphy, said in a statement: "Our prayers have been answered on this Easter Sunday. "My son and our family will forever be indebted to Capt Phillips for his bravery. If not for his incredible personal sacrifice, this kidnapping - an act of terror - could have turned out much worse." News of the captain's release came shortly after four French citizens, including a three-year-old boy, whose yacht was seized by pirates returned to Paris. They were freed by French troops on Friday. The yacht's owner, Florent Lemacon, was killed during the operation along with two pirates. On Saturday, pirates hijacked a tugboat in the Gulf of Aden. The Buccaneer has 16 crew members on board, 10 of them Italians.
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O capitão Richard Phillips do navio cargueiro Maersk Alabama foi libertado dos piratas da Somalia depois de capturado por quatro dias. A Marinha dos Estados Unidos informou que três dos piratas foram mortos pelos Navy Seals por tiros e o quarto pirata foi preso.

Phillips foi movido para o navio de guerra USS Bainbridge, depois foi para o USS Boxer, onde foi examinado e estava com boa saúde.

A FBI lançou investigações sobre a captura do Maersk Alabama, que chegou em seu destino em Mombasa, Quênia, no sábado.