Costa Concordia Shipwreck Captain Sues To Win Back Job

Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino was let go from his job after the cruise liner crashed last January, leading to the deaths of 32 people, and now he’s suing to win back his job. He was officially let go by Costa Cruises in July.

NBC News reports that Captain Schettino faces charges of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship. The wreck took place off the coast of the Tuscan island of Giglio, and an audio tape was widely circulated in which a member of the coast guard ordered Schettino to, “Get back on board, d**n it!”

The Costa Concordia captain will find out in the next week or so whether he and eight others will face charges for the shipwreck. Investigators say that Schettino took the 950-foot long Costa Concordia too close to shore, took too long to order evacuation and lost control of operations, as well as leaving while some of the 4,200 passengers and crew were still on board the ship.

Schettino claims his actions on the day the Costa Concordia wrecked saved lives, and so he wants his job back, along with back pay.

“It is the right of every worker to appeal against his dismissal and Captain Schettino has done no more than exercise that right,” Schettino’s lawyer Bruno Leporatti said.

Yahoo News reports that Schettino’s house arrest is taking place at his home in Meta di Sorrento, near Naples. It is likely he will request permission to attend a pre-trial hearing in the Tuscan town of Grosseto on Monday where more evidence may be presented.

The wreck of the Costa Concordia remains where it was when it sank (as seen on Google Maps Satellite image below) as salvage operations are still underway.

What do you think of this? Does Captain Schettino deserve to sail again?