Costa Captain claims island 'flyby' was ordered

[Owlet]

Schettino has claimed that his bosses ordered him to carry out the “sail-by salute” as a publicity stunt and that it had been advertised in the ship’s newsletter.

<snip>

Meanwhile Italian prosecutors are investigating claims from eyewitnesses to the evacuation that wealthy Russian passengers aboard the Concordia “bought” places in lifeboats ahead of women, children and the elderly.

The prosecutors have allegedly taken evidence from some passengers that “the disabled were left to fend for themselves” as well-off Russians thrust bundles of money into the hands of eager crewmen as the ship listed and began to sink.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/costa_concordia_disaster_wealthy_russians_bribed_crew_with_fistfuls_of_cash_to_skip_lifeboat_queue_1_207310

[Cooley Hurd]

1. This story gets more bizzare each day...

Wealthy Russians "buy" better seats in the lifeboats??? How effed up is that?!?

[Sherman A1]

2. This guy changes his story more than Mitt Romney

changes his positions on issues.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. This whole mess is really getting bizzare. n/t

[Generic Other]

4. Wasn't that in some movie?

The fat Russian, his kids and his mistress? Thgey had to get to the escape pods before the world was destroyed?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. 2012?

[DemoTex]

5. Joe Hazelwood, Jr.?

Schettino v. Hazelwood is not exactly apples v. apples, but the same level of pure raw weirdness is there.