BUZZARDS BAY , Massachusetts ( CNN ) -- A crew member aboard a freighter seized by pirates off east Africa said Wednesday that the crew had captured one of four pirates who hijacked their vessel , but they released him in a failed hostage trade . Shane Murphy is one of the crew members on board the U.S. ship that was hijacked off Somalia 's coast . The crew of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama had hoped their release of the pirate would lead the pirates to release Capt . Richard Phillips , but it did not , crew member Ken Quinn told CNN in a satellite telephone call . Instead , the four pirates -- who had scuttled their boat when they boarded the ship armed with AK-47s -- took Phillips with them aboard the ship 's 28-foot lifeboat , Quinn said . The crew had earlier overpowered the pirates and forced them off the ship , according to messages from first officer Shane Murphy . Murphy relayed the information in quick phone calls to his wife and father in his home state of Massachusetts -- where his father , Joe Murphy , is a maritime instructor , and his son once lectured about dealing with hostage situations . Watch Shane Murphy 's wife recall the conversation » . Joe Murphy , who teaches at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy , said the crew sent a distress signal to which the U.S. Navy responded immediately from almost 200 miles away . The ship had eluded the pirates for more than three hours off the coast of Somalia before being boarded , Joe Murphy said his son reported . After hiding from their attackers , then leading them to believe they were more in command of the situation than they really were , the crew jumped the pirates , capturing one of them , the elder Murphy said his son told him . `` It was by sheer force , '' he said . `` They have no weapons -- it must have been , obviously , that they overpowered them . '' He said three other pirates `` had gone into the water . '' Pentagon officials confirmed that four hijackers had boarded the Maersk Alabama Wednesday morning , and that one had been in custody . Joe Murphy said his son was in contact with the pirates Wednesday evening , helping negotiate for the release of the captain . He said he can only shake his head at the timing of the attack . Two weeks ago , Shane Murphy visited his father 's class to lecture the students on situations like the one he now faces . `` This is a classic example of Murphy 's law , '' Joe Murphy said . `` I teach the course , my son goes to sea and he gets captured . '' He said that , despite his concerns , he has faith that his son 's experience and knowledge will help wrap up the tense situation . `` Hopefully , it 's all going to work out , '' he said . `` I think this is going to end as a very positive story . '' CNN 's Jason Carroll and Tom Watkins contributed to this report .
NEW : Maersk Alabama eluded pirates for more than three hours . Crew says hijacker released in hopes of rescuing captain , but captain escaped . 4 hijackers boarded Maersk Alabama off coast of Africa . Crew member details story in quick phone calls to friends , family in U.S .