US hostages found dead
- Thread starter Acropolis
- Start date
22 February 2011 Last updated at 14:32 Hijacked Americans 'killed by captors' off Somalia
Scott and Jean Adam first set sail on the 58-foot craft in 2002
Continue reading the main story [h2]PIRACY CRISIS[/h2]
Four American sailors hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman have been killed, US defence officials say.
The US military said its forces trailing the vessel had responded to gunfire heard aboard but found all the captives shot when they arrived.
The yacht S/V Quest, hijacked on Friday, was owned and sailed by Scott and Jean Adam of California.
Also killed were two US passengers, Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle.
'Shot by captors' In a statement, US Central Command said that negotiations were underway between the US Navy and the pirates, when the US forces heard gunfire coming from the Quest about 0600GMT.
They boarded the ship, killing two pirates in the process, and discovered the four Americans shot. The US Navy sailors attempted to provide first aid but the hostages died, the military said.
"As they responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors," Gen James Mattis of US Central Command Commander said in a statement.
"We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest," the statement added.
The US Navy captured 13 pirates, and found the remains of two other pirates already dead about the vessel, the US military said.
The US Navy said it had been closely monitoring the vessel once it learned it had been hijacked, sending four warships to the area.
Saward
Continue reading the main story [h2]PIRACY CRISIS[/h2]
Four American sailors hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman have been killed, US defence officials say.
The US military said its forces trailing the vessel had responded to gunfire heard aboard but found all the captives shot when they arrived.
The yacht S/V Quest, hijacked on Friday, was owned and sailed by Scott and Jean Adam of California.
Also killed were two US passengers, Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle.
'Shot by captors' In a statement, US Central Command said that negotiations were underway between the US Navy and the pirates, when the US forces heard gunfire coming from the Quest about 0600GMT.
They boarded the ship, killing two pirates in the process, and discovered the four Americans shot. The US Navy sailors attempted to provide first aid but the hostages died, the military said.
"As they responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors," Gen James Mattis of US Central Command Commander said in a statement.
"We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest," the statement added.
The US Navy captured 13 pirates, and found the remains of two other pirates already dead about the vessel, the US military said.
The US Navy said it had been closely monitoring the vessel once it learned it had been hijacked, sending four warships to the area.
Saward
Sounds like the US made a rescue attempt and it all went wrong. Would make sense in that they knew that if the hostages made it ashore they would most likely never find them again so had to launch an operation "now or never". We'll have to see what more details emerge.
I'm not sure about that. The report said that two pirates were already dead. That might suggest a disagreement/mutiny between the pirates themselves and that's what might have led to the boarding.
Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre
Security Directors
4 warships were within close proximity to the Yacht at the time.......... This is a terrible outcome and could have drastic repercussions both for this industry and for the way the pirates now operate.....
Terribly sad, but also quite difficult to understand why they planned to undertake such a passage with such high risks.
Terribly sad, but also quite difficult to understand why they planned to undertake such a passage with such high risks.
There is only one party to blame, and thats simply the pirates.
No other blame can be attached to anyone else.
All 13 remaining pirates need to be tried and punished in their native state.
In Somalia this would mean death and rightly so.
It's the only possible message to be sent, by whoever passes or where ever the sentence is passed.
No other blame can be attached to anyone else.
All 13 remaining pirates need to be tried and punished in their native state.
In Somalia this would mean death and rightly so.
It's the only possible message to be sent, by whoever passes or where ever the sentence is passed.
Scartissue
Longterm Registered User
Well we all know that the Americans may need to go back to the drawing board with their hostage rescues. For example using frag grenades in a room with hostages in is probably not recommended as they are omnidirectional.
farangbootneck
Longterm Registered User
Reports from CNN (Untrustworthy) was that a Spec Ops guy had a bit of a hand to hand session with one of the pirates... Needless to say, the pirate ended up very much dead with multiple stab wounds.
Condolences to the victims families.
Condolences to the victims families.
farangbootneck
Longterm Registered User
Billy basics mate. Im sure they are well aware of frag limitations.
Maybe you should give em a bell.
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Scartissue
Longterm Registered User
Fair Point...
fidelis2007
Longterm Registered User
Don't agree with you guys.Hostage situation is allways one under very high risk..When you conduct the rescue operation allways exist the risk that hostage will be executed. On the other side there is a risk that hostage will be executed if there will not be a rescue operation.So what to do??I'm on the side for rescue operations under any circumstances,colateral will allways be there cause when all options are out then action is the only option.
Don't agree with ones who claims don't pressurize the pirates.Hostage situation is a game,a good negotiator knowes how to lead it but there allways is an open option for action.I would like from you guys to explain what do you mean with this word "pressurize" here cause we must take a look at this whole situation,not just the "grande finale"!
Don't agree with ones who claims don't pressurize the pirates.Hostage situation is a game,a good negotiator knowes how to lead it but there allways is an open option for action.I would like from you guys to explain what do you mean with this word "pressurize" here cause we must take a look at this whole situation,not just the "grande finale"!
scousejones
New Member
Things are only going to get busier and worse too 
Scartissue
Longterm Registered User
I don't think anyone is talking about not carrying out rescue operations. I think a lot of people are saying that if you take hostages then you will be punished heavily rather than just letting them get away with it and handing over money. If you use a heavy hand every time then people will think twice about taking hostages or being taking up piracy as a career choice.
Another point is that American rescue or smash and grab attempts rarely seem to succeed without heavy casualties, also they never seemed to have grasped the whole Hearts and Minds concept.
alanciangura
Full Registered User
Sad ending. Such operations usually end titts up. Reminds me of the flop operation on Egypt air in Malta way back in 1985. Our prayers for their souls and their family and friends. The Chandles were freed eventually, maybe they were just lucky but luck plays a part in any hostage situation and while the hostages are alive, there is a possibility of being released...
As for the pirates involved.... hope they get the punishment they deserve and governments wont wash their hands on this as happened in the past like giving them a ride back to the nearest Somali land and let them walk free
As for the pirates involved.... hope they get the punishment they deserve and governments wont wash their hands on this as happened in the past like giving them a ride back to the nearest Somali land and let them walk free
The pirates have always reacted to pressure from the navy. they take hostages onto the bridge wings with a gun to their heads to make the point to the navy to back off. Normally they do. But it is amazing that once a hostage you are totally at the mercy of your government and have no say in your fate. On the Tanit Chloe Lemacon begged the French to back off. Sarkozy ordered them to attack. Her husband was killed.
The BEluga Nomination is another example where the Seychelles intervened and killed a pirate. His two mates wanted revenge and wanted to send a message to the military not to intervene. They killed two crew.
If you have read Capt Phillips book then you know that the US would have been stooging about in ribs and generally making a nuisance of themselves. They would not have been sitting idly by and they have been tracking the yacht for days. I suspect that the fact that two pirates were dead reflects that. Who knows what else came into play. The death of 4 on the Maesrk Alabama the imprisonment of the pirate in NY for 33 years. The fact that they were US may have been enough. But they could have survived a hijacking as long as the family didnt get the same team as the Chandlers. Now we will never know. Had the gang been led by one of the gang leaders named by the Executive Order then no ransom could have been paid anyway.
Needless end and whilst you have to ask what they were doing sailing off Oman at the moment they didnt deserve to be shot.
The BEluga Nomination is another example where the Seychelles intervened and killed a pirate. His two mates wanted revenge and wanted to send a message to the military not to intervene. They killed two crew.
If you have read Capt Phillips book then you know that the US would have been stooging about in ribs and generally making a nuisance of themselves. They would not have been sitting idly by and they have been tracking the yacht for days. I suspect that the fact that two pirates were dead reflects that. Who knows what else came into play. The death of 4 on the Maesrk Alabama the imprisonment of the pirate in NY for 33 years. The fact that they were US may have been enough. But they could have survived a hijacking as long as the family didnt get the same team as the Chandlers. Now we will never know. Had the gang been led by one of the gang leaders named by the Executive Order then no ransom could have been paid anyway.
Needless end and whilst you have to ask what they were doing sailing off Oman at the moment they didnt deserve to be shot.