Drama appears to be playing out in the Indian Ocean. The crew of a US-flagged cargo ship hijacked off the coast of Somalia has reportedly retaken control of the vessel.

Undated handout picture of the Maersk Alabama container ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates. [CCTV/AFP]

The Pentagon says the crew is also apparently holding one of the four hijackers. There are also unconfirmed reports that the captain of the ship is still being held hostage.