The True Story Behind Captain Phillips and How He Escaped Pirates
The film could be a fairy tale.
Many have watched the successful Captain Phillips film with Tom Hanks as the lead character. Most will know that the film is based on a true story. However, few know that the story is entirely different from what happened.
Instead of being the hero of the encounter with Somalian pirates, Phillips was blamed for the capture in the first place. So angry were the rest of the crew that they filed a lawsuit against the company over the incompetence Phillips showed.
Somalian piracy had become common and had started with fishermen seeking justice for losing their livelihood. The continual dumping of toxic waste in their waters had destroyed their industry.
Capture
On 7th April 2009, Phillips was captain of the MV Maersk Alabama. The ship was sailing on the Maersk Line travelling from Oman to Kenya; on board were twenty-one Americans commanded by Captain Richard Phillips.
The ship travelled into pirate waters a few hundred miles off the Somali coast despite the warnings. Phillips failed to change course.
The following day, speedboats carrying pirates armed with AK-47s raced towards the Alabama.
