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A telephone conversation between the captain of the Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, and Gregorio De Falco, a captain from the Italian coast guard, has been released. The phone call reveals that De Falco ordered Schettino to return to the ship multiple times after he abandoned the ship.
The recording of the phone call was made at 1:46 a.m. Saturday. De Falco wanted Schettino to get back on the boat so the coast guard could know how many people remained on the ship. Including passengers and crew, there were over 4,000 people onboard the ship at the time of the accident.
“Listen Schettino,” De Falco says, “There are people trapped on board. Now you go with your boat under the prow on the starboard side. There is a pilot ladder. You will climb that ladder and go on board. You go on board and then you will tell me how many people there are. Is that clear? I’m recording this conversation, Cmdr. Schettino…”
Schettino says in response, “In this moment, the boat is tipping…”
“Look Schettino,” De Falco says, “perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea, but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Get on board, damnit!”
Schettino then says, “Commander, please…”
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“Are you refusing to go aboard commander?” De Falco asks. “Can you tell me the reason why you are not going?”
“I am not going because the other lifeboat is stopped,” Schettino replies.
“You go aboard. It is an order,” De Falco says. “Don’t make any more excuses. You have declared ‘abandon ship.’ Now I am in charge. You go on board! Is that clear? Do you hear me? Go, and call me when you are aboard. My air rescue crew is there.”
