Costa Concordia Captain Blamed for Causing Crash

Max Rossi/Reuters Photo

Pier Luigi Foschi, CEO of Costa Crociere, the company that operates Costa Concordia, assigned  Captain Francesco Schettino responsibility for the tragic accident January 13th that tore a hole in the ship's hull off the Tuscany coast. Foschi said the liner had passed all safety and technical tests in its 2011 evaluation and further stated Costa ships have programmed routes with alarms that sound when they deviate off course.

Foschi explained, "This route was put in correctly.The fact that it left from this course is due solely to a maneuver by the commander that was unapproved, unauthorized and unknown to Costa." His emotional statements included assurances to passengers that their safety and well-being take top priority with the company.

Prosecutors have accused Schettino, who was arrested Saturday, of leaving the ship before many of the passengers had escaped. He purportedly stood on shore watching the evacuation, although members of the crew said he stayed aboard for a long time. Coast Guard officials reported that he had refused to return to the ship when requested to do so.

Schettino's delay in executing an "abandon ship" command prevented passengers from boarding lifeboats in a timely manner, adding to the confusion that occurred when the ship slammed into a rock. Passengers interviewed later said the crew didn't have control of the situation and credited wait staff with providing assistance during the chaos.

Rescue divers abandoned their efforts to find the 29 people still missing earlier today, but  resumed their search hours later. Two Americans from Minnesota have been confirmed among those unaccounted for. Six people have been found dead.