Experts Analyzing Black Box From Sinking Italian Cruise Ship

January 20, 2012 - According to reports experts are analyzing the black box from the sinking Italian cruise ship.

According to reports experts are still analyzing the ships black box that has shown there was a one hour time between when the ship ran aground and the coast guard was alerted. The ship struck the rocks on the coastline at approximately 9:45 p.m. Friday and the call to alert the coast guard occurred at approximately 10:43.

Investigators have stated that they believe the captain of the ship Francesco Schettino maneuvered the ship after hitting the rocks and prior to alerting the coast guard, according to Ansa, Italian news outlet.

Schettino is reported to have left the ship, with passengers and crew members still on the ship that was tilting sharply at approximately 12:30 a.m. Some passengers were not able to leave the ship until approximately 6:00 a.m., with six people confirmed dead and sixteen still missing.

Passengers heard a loud bang that was followed by a blackout and were reassured by an announcement that it was an electrical problem. Passengers that have been rescued stated that many of the passengers ignored the announcement and went to the deck of the tilting ship. They have stated that the crew did not want to lower lifeboats and crew members have said they were forced to lower some, against orders, but not everyone got on them.