The Captain suppose to sink with his ship!

[tantricia44]

The Captain who was the first to abandoned ship as his panic passengers flee for safety! The cowered Captain claims the reason he was one of the first one's on the life boats is because he tripped into one! I'm rolling around laugh my *bleep* off when I heard that excuse.    He was ordered by the Italian authorities to get back on his ship which he refused! A lot of people that died on that ship will be blood on his hands! It's like watching the Titanic sinking in live action!  So, creepy.....

[depate99]

This guy is the complete antithesis to Captain Sully.  What a coward.

[raven1114]

The Captain does not have to 'go down with the ship'. What they have to do is first make sure everyone else is safely off the boat then they may get off.

[koolcraftlady]

That is the whole point.  He did not stay on the ship until everyone was off and safe.  There are still people missing and he is under house arrest.  Come on.  He should be forced to help look for those people that he abandoned.  Another thing why was he off course?  Supposedly he was helping a friend.  Yeah right.  He endangered everyone on that ship. 

[sherryinutah]

He probably abandoned the ship because he knew that He and the staff were not trained or equipped for such an emergency.  I love being on a cruise but I don't think anyone is realistic about that kind of disaster. 

I'm not interested in judging the guy or making excuses for him.  Fortunately...because I wasn't a passenger on that ship I can maintain a neutral perspective.

[cody0608]

I just heard on the news he told the investigators that he "tripped" and fell into a life boat...he didn't mean to leave the ship WTF    How do you trip and land in a life boat???  I hope he gets in even more trouble for lying.  How pathetic!!!

[mgint]

should  lose his job and maybe be held criminally responsible for wreck.

[cnalvarez]

He doesn't "have to sink with the ship", however being the first one off, yeah that's a no-no and just a cowardly thing to do.  If you watched the calls he made immediately following his "dive for life", you kind of get the jest of what a coward and just nasty person this guy is.  Over and over he was ordered to get back on the ship, people were still on it, and in trouble.  He refused!  At one point he was told that rescue personnel had found the body of at least one victim, he didn't seem to concerned.  Very sad, and scary if you really sit back and think.

[jordandog]

How do you trip and land in a life boat???

Aww, don't be so harsh now. It is the same thing that happens to robbers and burglars all the time. They "trip and land in someone else's home, someone else's convenience store, someone else's vault/safe...."

Seriously though, that was a very disturbing thing to watch and to listen when people told of their experiences. I find it so odd this happened so close to the 100th anniversary of the Titanic going down and the water temp was only 57F. The water was 60F when the Titanic went. I am just glad many more people were not killed during the [almost] 'Keystone Cops' scenario.

[rogery]

How do you trip and land in a life boat???

Aww, don't be so harsh now. It is the same thing that happens to robbers and burglars all the time. They "trip and land in someone else's home, someone else's convenience store, someone else's vault/safe...."

Seriously though, that was a very disturbing thing to watch and to listen when people told of their experiences. I find it so odd this happened so close to the 100th anniversary of the Titanic going down and the water temp was only 57F. The water was 60F when the Titanic went. I am just glad many more people were not killed during the [almost] 'Keystone Cops' scenario.

Unfortunately there is no screening test for cowardice. Hopefully this tragedy will improve safety. According to Wikipedia (which of course is never wrong..), the water temperature at the Titanic sinking was 28F and survival in the water at that temperature is just minutes.

[mintopewku]

I find it very sad that the entire event happened.  Certainly it was a chance for the captain to really 'shine' or have some courage.  Though I feel I cannot say what I would do once I was off the boat.  Yes I think a captain should be the last off the boat---maybe I've watched too much pirates films.  But I think of several psychological reason why a person would refuse to board a sinking ship. 
I do think they should investigate the situation, as well as the company.  Why did the captain feel his crew was untrained? Do they not have procedures for emergencies?

[fer11944]

This topic reminds me of the movie a Perfect Storm with George Clooney. Highly recommend it. I think there is more fear than honor in a Captain's choice to sink with his ship. Obviously I think its silly.

[jordandog]

According to Wikipedia (which of course is never wrong..), the water temperature at the Titanic sinking was 28F and survival in the water at that temperature is just minutes.

Good catch on that one, rogery! I didn't even realize I had typed 60F instead of 30F. Thanks for pointing that out.
I'm not going to edit mine. It would just confuse people and we have enough confusion here already....

[plennis]

NO he does not have to go down with the ship..........But the first one to fall into a life boat??? along with several other of the top officers on board (who apparently also tripped and fell in)....and then come to shore with a sheet over you so you are not recognized......The guy is a jerk, and we are now hearing of many stories of other ship employees doing their best to help passengers off the ship.   Why did he finish his gourmet meal with a lovely female passenger..wasting 30 minutes of valuable time before people were told that it was not just the electricity on board malfunctioning and to get their life jackets and get off.   The ship was his responsibility that includes all the passengers and employees too, making sure they were safe and given instructions on what to do.  Italy is calling his a disgrace and embarrassment to their country.
     

[joyroos18]

the poor thing fell into the life boat what else could he do lol how sad