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Costa Concordia captain fights dismissal

A satellite image captured by Digital Globe of the Costa Concordia, a luxury cruise ship that ran aground in the Tuscan waters off of Giglio, Italy on Friday, Jan. 13. Thirty-two people died. UPI/Digital Globe/HO

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Published: Oct. 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM

GENOA, Italy, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The captain of the cruise ship that ran aground on an Italian island, killing 32 people, said he is suing his employers for firing him.

Costa Crociere confirmed Wednesday it fired Costa Concordia Capt. Francesco Schettino, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Schettino has apologized for being distracted the night his ship ran aground on the island of Giglio off the Tuscan coast.

He said his dismissal was unfair because he was not in command of the ship when it hit a rock.

Schettino is under investigation for manslaughter, abandoning his post before all passengers and crew were evacuated and failing to communicate properly with maritime authorities.

The accident in January was Italy's worst maritime disaster since World War II.

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