Skip to content
Live newsroom 70 readers online
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Live Sync: Just now
Demystifying Finance, Technology, and Global Markets for the Next Generation.
BreakingF.D.A. Approves the Drug Daraxonrasib That’s Poised to Transform Pancreatic Cancer
Important AVOID AMZN Stage 4 (Conv: 1/5 | Size: 10%)

How Somali pirate kidnappings actually work, according to a former hostage

Jessica Buchanan is an author, humanitarian aid worker, and kidnapping survivor who spent 93 days held hostage by Somali pirates. Originally a schoolteacher from the United States, she relocated to Africa to work as an education advisor for a nongovernmental organization. While finishing a routine field mission on October 25, 2011, she was abducted at […]

By deepak · August 13, 2026 · 3 min read

Jessica Buchanan is an author, humanitarian aid worker, and kidnapping survivor who spent 93 days held hostage by Somali pirates.

Originally a schoolteacher from the United States, she relocated to Africa to work as an education advisor for a nongovernmental organization. While finishing a routine field mission on October 25, 2011, she was abducted at gunpoint and held for ransom. Forced to live outdoors in brutal conditions, Buchanan's health deteriorated until she was rescued in a highly classified raid by SEAL Team Six, authorized by President Barack Obama.

Buchanan speaks with Business Insider about her abduction and the mental fortitude she needed to develop to stay alive. She also details the high-stakes rescue by SEAL Team Six and the realities of what she terms "surviving survival" — navigating the complexity of PTSD and challenges of reacclimating to normal life after intense trauma.

In 2013, Buchanan coauthored "Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six." She is also the author of 2025's "How to Survive Survival."

Jessica Buchanan is an author, humanitarian aid worker, and kidnapping survivor who spent 93 days held hostage by Somali pirates.

Originally a schoolteacher from the United States, she relocated to Africa to work as an education advisor for a nongovernmental organization. While finishing a routine field mission on October 25, 2011, she was abducted at gunpoint and held for ransom. Forced to live outdoors in brutal conditions, Buchanan's health deteriorated until she was rescued in a highly classified raid by SEAL Team Six, authorized by President Barack Obama.

Buchanan speaks with Business Insider about her abduction and the mental fortitude she needed to develop to stay alive. She also details the high-stakes rescue by SEAL Team Six and the realities of what she terms "surviving survival" — navigating the complexity of PTSD and challenges of reacclimating to normal life after intense trauma.

In 2013, Buchanan coauthored "Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six." She is also the author of 2025's "How to Survive Survival."

Every time publishes a story, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!

Look out for an alert in your inbox the next time publishes a story!

Every time a new story is published, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!

Look out for an alert in your inbox the next time a new story is published!

By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider’s
Terms of Service and
Privacy Policy.

Source: Read the original article on www.businessinsider.com