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Captain Of Wrecked Cruise Ship Cries Foul, Says He's Innocent
When we last visited Captain Francesco Schettino, he was being accused of several crimes as a result of the Costa Concordia grounding. He still is. But now, the Italian master of the ill-fated cruise ship says he's innocent and that the truth will be told – in his new book.
"Soon I will reveal the shocking truth," Schettino told Italian newspaper Il Giornale as reported by the Telegraph. "And then all those people who denigrated me will have to apologize, not to me but to the families of the victims and to the public, which was conned with false information."
By all accounts, Costa Concordia was sailing too close to shore on January 13, 2012, when the ship grounded off the coast of Italy. However it happened, the event took the lives of 32 passengers and crew in the process.
Now, Schettino, who has been accused of abandoning his ship, manslaughter and causing the shipwreck, says he is innocent and did all he could do to help. Sticking to his story that he tripped and fell into a lifeboat, the fallen 52-year-old captain is resolute in his contention.
"I will no longer accept being massacred with slanderous lies," Schettino told Il Giornale. "I'm writing a book and I will reveal what people don't want to come to light."
No details are available on the book or when it will be out.
Meanwhile, salvage operations continue at the site of the grounding of Costa Concordia, now aided by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.
[Photo Credit: Flickr user Il Fatto Quotidiano]
"I will no longer accept being massacred with slanderous lies," Schettino told Il Giornale. "I'm writing a book and I will reveal what people don't want to come to light."
No details are available on the book or when it will be out.
Meanwhile, salvage operations continue at the site of the grounding of Costa Concordia, now aided by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.
[Photo Credit: Flickr user Il Fatto Quotidiano]
Filed under: Europe, Italy, United States, Transportation, Cruises
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Laurel Perry Dec 21st 2012 10:01PM
It's interesting that he says he was such a hero. When the people of Giglio were giving everything they had to help these people, he did nothing. My first hand account interviews show him as being scared and even arrogant when he came on the island. He went and got a shower and changed his clothes, then did interviews. All while the passengers from his ship were wet, freezing, in shock and searching everywhere for their loved ones. He never lifted a finger to help anyone. He gave his computer to the hotel owner while he was being interviewed, then got it back when he was done. Somehow, that computer was lost after that and has yet to be found. Doesn't sound like someone that has nothing to hide, does it? Such a shame that he will continue to traumatize these people with these lies he is going to publish. So sad.
~Laurel Perry
http://capturinglavita.com/