Capt. Richard Phillips has been set free by Somali pirates, according to US Navy spokesman.
Richard Phillips, captain of a U.S. flagged, Danish-owned container ship, the Maersk Alabama,
had been in pirates hands for five days in a lifeboat in waters off the Horn of Africa after pirates raided his aid ship.
Three of the pirates holding him were reported to be killed in the operation.
The fourth one is now in US Military custody.
Capt Phillips is said to be unhurt and on the USS Bainbridge, a warship sent to track the pirates holding him.
He was taken hostage last Wednesday after pirates briefly hijacked his ship, the Maersk Alabama.
Captain's family was informed of his release several hours ago, media reports say.
For several days, Somali elders had been trying to resolve the standoff but the talks had failed, most recent reports suggested.
John Reinhart, Maersk Line Ltd President and CEO said in a news release that the U.S. government informed them around 1:30 p.m. EDT Sunday that Phillips had been released. He said the company called Phillips' wife Andrea, to inform her.
The U.S. officials were ordered not to discuss the matter publicly and they spoke on condition of anonymity. A Pentagon spokesman refused to add any comment.
When Phillips' crew heard the news aboard their ship in the port of Mombasa, they placed an American flag over the rail, on top of the Maersk Alabama, whistled and pumped their fists in the air. Crew fired a bright red flare into the sky from the ship.
A happy denouement.
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