Thu, Aug 27, 2009
"Large Caliber Weapon" Did Not Hit The Aircraft
Somali pirates holding 4 vessels off the coast of Somalia
reportedly opened fire on a U.S. Navy SH-60B conducting a
surveillance flight over the captured ships Thursday. The
helicopter was not hit, did not return fire, and no casualties were
reported.
SH-60B File Photo
The international News Service AFP reports that the Navy
released a statement indicating "Somali pirates aboard the motor
vessel (M/V) Win Far fired what appeared to be a large calibre
weapon at a US navy SH-60B helicopter. The helicopter was
conducting a routine surveillance flight of M/V Win Far, currently
held at anchorage by Somali pirates south of Garacad, Somalia, when
the incident occurred."
It is the first time the pirates have been reported to have
opened fire on a U.S. aircraft. AFP reports that an
infrared video shows the attack happening as the helicopter
was returning to the U.S.S. Chancellorsville, and that the crew was
unaware of the attack until they saw the video. The Navy said
the helicopter was about 3,000 yards from Win Far when it
happened.
The Win Far was seized earlier this year, and has since become a
base of operations for the pirate's attacks on other vessels,
including the U.S. flagged Maersk-Alabama in April. The pirates are
holding 30 crewmembers of the Win Far hostage.
The U.S. Navy says there have been 114 attempted attacks on
merchant vessels in the region, 29 of them successful, this year
alone. Several nations have deployed warships in the region in an
attempt to protect one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
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