Heroic movie captain sued by crew over Somali pirate attack
A SHIP'S captain whose ordeal at the hands of Somali pirates has been turned into a Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks is being sued by crew members who blame him for putting their lives at risk. Captain Richard Phillips was hailed a hero by President Obama after his rescue by US Navy Seals.
The film, called simply Captain Phillips, tells how the skipper of the Maersk Alabama freighter spent five days in 2009 as a hostage on a lifeboat after being taken from his ship.
However, while he is portrayed as his crew’s saviour, nine former shipmates have launched a £30million court battle, saying that he was responsible for what happened. They claim he ignored warnings to sail clear of the pirate-infested waters of east Africa and their lives were put on the line so that the company could save money.
Captain Phillips was at the helm of the container vessel when it was seized by pirates. He offered himself as a hostage in return for the 20 members of his crew being unharmed.
A SHIP'S captain whose ordeal at the hands of Somali pirates has been turned into a Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks is being sued by crew members who blame him for putting their lives at risk. Captain Richard Phillips was hailed a hero by President Obama after his rescue by US Navy Seals.
The film, called simply Captain Phillips, tells how the skipper of the Maersk Alabama freighter spent five days in 2009 as a hostage on a lifeboat after being taken from his ship.
However, while he is portrayed as his crew’s saviour, nine former shipmates have launched a £30million court battle, saying that he was responsible for what happened. They claim he ignored warnings to sail clear of the pirate-infested waters of east Africa and their lives were put on the line so that the company could save money.
Captain Phillips was at the helm of the container vessel when it was seized by pirates. He offered himself as a hostage in return for the 20 members of his crew being unharmed.