SV Quest, owned by California couple Scott and Jean Adam with Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle of Seattle on board as crew, was hijacked Friday 18 February 240 nautical miles off Oman.

SV Quest had left the Blue Water Rally on Feb. 15 to take an alternative route to Salalah, Oman, leaving the group, which sailed together for security.

As the hijacked yacht moved closer to the Somali coast, it was shadowed by an American warship. Negotiations were ongoing with the pirates for the hostages’ release, however, gunfire was heard at about 1 a.m. ET Tuesday (4 days after the hijacking) and when U.S. forces responded, reached and boarded the Quest, they discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors.

Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds.

The pirates engaged the U.S. forces on board, officials said. Two pirates were killed in the skirmish and 13 were captured and detained. Two others were already in U.S. forces custody, the statement said, and the remains of two pirates were found on board. “In total, it is believed 19 pirates were involved in the hijacking” of the vessel, Central Command said.

See the following news items for further details:

Hijacked US Yacht – The Latest News (21 Feb 2011)

Tragic Outcome for US Crew Taken Hostage

Thoughts on the Fate of s/v Quest

Somali charged in hijacking that killed 4 Americans [BROKENLINK]