Crew Says Phillips Ignored Piracy Warnings

Some crewmen who were aboard the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama when it was attacked by pirates last April now say ship captain Richard Phillips had ignored repeated warnings to keep his freighter at least 600 miles off the African coast.

Records obtained by The Associated Press show that maritime safety groups issued at least seven advisories warning of pirate attacks in the days before outlaws boarded the Maersk Alabama in the Gulf of Aden, about 380 miles offshore.

Phillips was held captive by pirates for five days.

A piracy expert and the captain's second-in-command say Phillips had the prerogative to heed the warnings or not.

Phillips, who lives in Underhill, declined comment on the allegation.