Captain of doomed Costa Concordia 'sues to get his job back'
Francesco Schettino 'insists Costa reinstate him and hand over back pay'
The captain of an Italian luxury liner which crashed in January is taking ship owner Costa Crociere to court for firing him and is demanding his job back, according to Italy’s Repubblica newspaper.
Francesco Schettino, who is being investigated for causing the shipwreck which claimed 32 lives and abandoning the Costa Concordia before everyone had been evacuated, was fired by Costa at the end of July, the report said.
“Costa Crociere confirms that it has concluded the disciplinary procedure against Schettino following the Costa Concordia shipwreck, ordering his dismissal,” the company, Europe’s biggest cruise operator, told Italian media.
The captain, who expects to find out next week whether he will face trial along with eight others for his role in the tragedy, has claimed his actions saved lives and insists Costa reinstate him and hand over back pay.
Schettino’s lawyer, Bruno Leporatti, was not available for comment.
A pre-trial hearing in the Tuscan town of Grosseto on Monday will establish whether prosecutors have a case against Schettino, who is accused of performing a risky “salute” manoeuvre close to Giglio island where the ship hit rocks.