Costa Concordia captain says he will ‘certainly’ command ship again

Francesco Schettino, the captain of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia, is back in Italian court to contest his firing after the Concordia ran aground and capsized in January off the coast of Tuscany.

More from GlobalPost: Costa Concordia captain apologizes to survivors in court

The Associated Press reported Schettino, who is blamed for the deadly accident, is challenging Costa Cruises' decision to fire him. The Italian company owns the Concordia.

On Wednesday Schettino told reporters before his hearing in Torre Annunziata, near Naples, "Yes, certainly" he thought he would command a ship again, the AP said.

The Daily Telegraph reported he is also demanding back pay, since his dismissal in July.

On the night of January 13, the Costa Concordia hit the rocks off the island of Giglio, forcing the evacuation of 4,200 passengers and crew, the Telegraph said.

Schettino could face manslaughter and other charges, according to the AP.

Will you support The World with a monthly donation?

Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!