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US captain freed by Navy snipers arrives in Kenya

Elizabeth A. Kennedy | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 15 years, 8 months AGO
by Elizabeth A. KennedyTom Maliti
| March 19, 2009 11:00 PM

MOMBASA, Kenya - The sea captain who clashed with Somali pirates and was freed by U.S. Navy snipers is arriving in port in Kenya aboard an American destroyer.

Capt. Richard Phillips originally planned to arrive a day earlier and reunite with the crew of the Maersk Alabama. But the USS Bainbridge that is transporting him diverted to answer a distress call from another U.S. cargo ship attacked by pirates.

The Liberty Sun arrived in Mombasa earlier Thursday with a bridge battered by grenades and windows blown out by gunfire but its 20 crew unharmed.

Phillips' crew flew home from Kenya and were reunited with their families Wednesday.

A security official at Kenya's Mombasa airport says a charter plane is on standby Thursday to whisk Phillips home to Vermont.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

ARTICLES BY TOM MALITI

US captain freed by Navy snipers arrives in Kenya
March 19, 2009 11 p.m.

US captain freed by Navy snipers arrives in Kenya

MOMBASA, Kenya - The American sea captain held hostage for five days by Somali pirates reached land Thursday, with the U.S. destroyer that rescued him docking to the strains of "Sweet Home Alabama" hours after his crew reunited with their families back home.

March 19, 2009 11 p.m.

US captain freed by Navy snipers arrives in Kenya

MOMBASA, Kenya - The sea captain who clashed with Somali pirates and was freed by U.S. Navy snipers is arriving in port in Kenya aboard an American destroyer.

March 19, 2009 11 p.m.

US captain freed by Navy snipers arrives in Kenya

MOMBASA, Kenya - The American sea captain held hostage for five days by Somali pirates reached port Thursday, with the U.S. destroyer that rescued him docking to the strains of "Sweet Home Alabama" hours after his crew reunited with their families back home.