The US Central Command announced this morning that four Americans aboard the hijacked sailing vessel Quest were shot and killed by pirates at approximately 1 a.m. EST today. The victims were Jean and Scott Adam, the owners of the yacht, and Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, who had signed on as crew. “We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest,” said Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command Commander.
Four U.S. Navy warships; the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Bulkeley; had shadowed the hijacked yacht for the last three days. As negotiations with the pirates for the release of the hostages were ongoing, shots were heard from onboard the yacht. When Navy personal stormed the boat, the four American hostages were found to have been shot by their captors. Of the 19 pirates believed to be involved in the hijacking, four are dead and the rest are in custody.
U.S. forces respond to gunfire aboard the S/V Quest
Americans slain by captors on hijacked yacht; pirates killed, arrested
Four American hostages killed by Somali pirates during rescue attempt
This is unacceptable. These pirates should be made to walk the plank as a previous commenter suggested. It’s NOT killing, it’s just giving them a real slim chance at surviving and sending a clear message to other pirates, that this will be your fate.
This is NO place for lawyers to be involved, it’s PIRACY and should be dealt with immediately at capture.
At least we can reasonably sure that these pirates will be arrested and held for trial rather than being released back to Somalia the way most captured pirates are these days.
Our thoughts are with the famlies of these Adventures! Their jouney cut short but their dream lives on. Peace be with you.
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We had the pleasure of meeting the crew in Hong Kong on their stop over.
On behalf of Hebe Have Yacht Club I would like to pass our condolences to the family’s of all the crew. May they rest in peace.
I only met the Adams’s briefly but I was very sadened to hear the news of the murders. Perhaps the international lawyers could become involved in making it illegal under international law for anyone, including insurance companies, to pay ransoms for pirated vessels. Piracy is a business and if there were no profits it would stop.
PETER: It reads like a solution however since the marine insurance premiums must be paid then of course the insurance companies are under contract to pay out. However international law is in place for generations to “hang pirates from the yardarm” or give life sentences (U.S. Code). Just put that into effect in all cases from now on. The first priority is a massive rescue effort for the seafarers currently held captive. Yes the risks are enormous for the hostages being killed but it is better than slowly rotting as captives.
Good Watch.
If the pirates are posing for pics on the front of USA today, then someone knows where they are. HELLO????????????????
Does anyone remember Tom Clancys book “Clear and Present Danger” where the CGC-Panache (Tybee~really)hung the pirates from the yard arm? Well this is exactly what we should be doing,don’t bring back the bodies,feed em to the sharks. This kind of fighting dates back to tripoli bay, hang em all and sink there so called”motherships” so called fishing boats. Just do it with NO media around, and denia everything.
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There are some areas where you don’t sail. It is a sad incident but serves as a warning for others. The world’s most powerful navies can not protect you.