thedailywhat:

Hell Of A Trip of the Day: At a court hearing concerning his manslaughter and ship abandonment charges, embattled Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino claimed he accidentally tripped and fell into a life boat while helping to evacuate passengers.

“The passengers were pouring on to the decks, taking the lifeboats by assault,” the Italian newspaper La Repubblica quoted the captain as saying. “Suddenly, since the ship was at a 60-70° angle, I tripped and I ended up in one of the boats. That’s how I found myself in the lifeboat.”

As evidence, Schettino pointed to his lack of a life jacket, which he says he gave to a passenger.

Though he would not admit to abandoning ship, the captain did accept responsibility for the accident, and confirmed media reports that he was sailing close to Giglio in order to salute retired captain Mario Palombo, with whom he was speaking on the phone at the time.

Schettino still maintains that he was not on drugs or drunk, and is willing to submit to a drug test. 

Above: The Costa Concordia lying on its side, as seen from space.

[guardian / msnbc.]