Washington  - Crew members may have retaken control of a US- operated ship that was hijacked off the coast of Somalia, CNN reported Wednesday citing an unnamed Pentagon official.

The ship with 21 US crew members on board was taken by Somali pirates early Wednesday morning. At least one of the pirates had been taken into custody by the crew and another three of the hijackers had attempted to escape, according to CNN.

Owned by Danish firm Maersk and operated by US company Maersk Line Limited, the ship was carrying food supplies and was headed to Mombasa, Kenya, according to John Reinhart, chief executive of Maersk Line in Norfolk, Virginia.

Reinhart would not confirm to reporters that the ship had been retaken by the crew, saying it was a fluid situation. (dpa)