( CNN ) -- Capt . Richard Phillips , whose capture and dramatic rescue in the pirate-infested waters off the coast of Africa last week captivated the nation , returned home to Vermont on Friday . Capt . Richard Phillips says , `` I 'm not the hero . The military is the hero . Thank them . '' Phillips landed shortly after 4:30 p.m. at Burlington International Airport . He was met by family members , who climbed the steps of his plane to greet him . He then strolled across the tarmac with his family , his arm wrapped around his daughter , Mariah , who wiped away tears . `` I just want to thank you for your prayers and support of my family while I was gone , '' Phillips said after landing in Vermont . `` I 'm just a bit part . I 'm a seaman like all the other seamen out there . '' Watch Phillips ' happy homecoming » . Close-up camera shots of Phillips on Friday showed what appeared to be rope burns on his forearms , presumably from being tied by the pirates . Phillips spoke for a short time and mostly thanked the military for saving him . `` I 'm not the hero , '' he said . `` The military is the hero . Thank them . '' Watch Phillips thank military , Maersk » . He offered no details of what happened to him during his time as a hostage besides calling it `` indescribable . '' He also took the time to thank crew members on his ship . `` We did it . I told you it was n't going to be 'if ' ; it was going to be 'when , ' `` he said . `` We did what we were trained to do . We 're just seamen . [ We ] do the best with what we 've got , and my crew did an excellent job , and I 'm so proud of them that they 're all home and they 're with their loved ones . '' Watch how crews train for pirate attacks » . He had just completed an 18-hour flight out of Mombasa , Kenya , on a jet owned by Maersk . Family members said they planned to spend some quality time together later Friday at their home in Underhill , Vermont -- Phillips ' mother-in-law was making brownies and his best friend planned to bring over chicken pot pie and Phillips ' favorite beer , they said . Phillips offered himself as a hostage last week , when four pirates boarded his U.S.-flagged ship , the Maersk Alabama . The pirates held him aboard a lifeboat for several days in a standoff against the U.S. Navy . Navy sharpshooters shot and killed three pirates , freeing Phillips . The other pirate had been taken into custody . The captain 's wife , Andrea , also spoke at his homecoming , calling it `` one of the happiest moments of our lives . '' She said she was extremely proud of his bravery , but also acknowledged the captain would say he was just doing his job . `` I have always been proud to call myself an American , '' Andrea Phillips said . `` Today , I 'm even prouder . To everyone who has been involved in this that made this day possible , I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart . Through this past week , having Richard back safe was all that my family and I ever wanted . Now our prayers have been answered , and we have a lot of people to thank . '' The 53-year-old Vermont native was praised Thursday by engineer John Cronan , one of the 19 other crew members . `` He went above and beyond the call to ensure our safety , '' Cronan told CNN 's `` Larry King Live . '' `` I ca n't thank that man enough . He is the reason I 'm here tonight . '' Watch Cronan tell King about the experience » . Asked whether she wants to see Cronan continue working as a merchant mariner , Cronan 's fiancee said it was up to him . `` John and I have an agreement , '' said Heather Giardinelli , who works as a pharmaceutical marketing researcher . `` He does n't tell me how to do my job , and I wo n't tell him how to do his . '' Asked whether he plans to return to sea , Cronan said , `` Yes , sir . However , the Staten Island Ferry has become much more appealing . ''
Capt . Richard Phillips : ` ` I ' m a seaman like all the other seamen out there '' Wife : ` ` having Richard back safe was all that my husband and I ever wanted '' Phillips spent three days as hostage after Somali pirates ' Capt . Phillips crew member : ` ` I ' n't thank that man enough ''