Maritime Accident News

American yachters killed by Somali pirate captors

Four American hostages aboard a yacht in the Indian Ocean were killed by Somali pirates, said U.S. defense officials.

Negotiations between the captors and the U.S. Navy were ongoing when gunfire was heard from the hijacked yacht S/V Quest at approximately 0600 GMT today, a statement from U.S. Central Command said.

American forces trailing the yacht responded to the gunfire and discovered all four hostages had been shot when they boarded. They could not be saved despite Navy sailors administering first aid.

Killed were the yacht's owners Scott and Jean Adam of California and two passengers, Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle. All were shot by their captors, according to the Central Command statement.

The yacht was hijacked a few days earlier off the coast of Oman and was heading for Somalia.

The remains of two dead pirates were discovered and 13 other pirates were captured by the Navy.

"We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest," the statement continued.

Source: BBC

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