Hobyo (Sunatimes) A Danish family of five and two crew who have freed by Somali pirates after they were kidnapped while sailing off the Horn of Africa in February are set to fly back to Denmark, officials say.

The pirates released the Danish family after receiving a $3 million ransom, a pirate told Reuters news agency on Wednesday.

Armed pirates hijacked 43-foot sailboat, SY ING, capturing the family and two crew members about 600 miles east of Somalia.

Danish officials said the released family and crew members were flying back to Denmark, but declined to comment on whether a ransom was paid.

Foreign Ministry said in a statement the seven Danes are well considering the circumstances they are expected to be back in Denmark shortly.

A pirate, who identified himself as Hussein, told Reuters by telephone from the coastal village of Ras Bina in Somalia’s Puntland region that they received a $3 million ransom on Tuesday afternoon.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen welcomed the news of the captives’ release and declined to discuss whether any ransom was paid.

Meanwhile the Danish foreign ministry has revealed that six seamen — two Danes and four Filipinos — captured from the freight vessel MV Leopard in January were still being held by pirates in an unrelated case.

By Rooble Dirir