Sinking of Yacht off Sicilian Coast

[Cesarina]

This is of course an absolutely tragic event.
I'm feeling a bit mean by saying this.........but why is it the headline topic on BBC news?
I genuinely feel sorry for those involved, but don't understand why it's the dominant news story?

Agree with this. I used to work as a scientist on survey ships in the med so have been following.

When we had bad weather/storms we never went into a harbour but would cease operations, drop anchor and shelter near the coastline. I loved my job and being at sea but it did used to cross my mind, would I get out if the ship went down.

It’s an awful tragedy and I really feel sorry for the families.

Yep. Life is precious. Sometimes unpredictable. And sometimes through unexpected events extremely cruel.

And the resulting outcome is death which is actually the only guarentee in life.

We seem though as nation (not everyone) to always want to try and find some sense in death. A reason. A solution. A prevention.

Which is why I think people look for conspiracy theories where there just isn't one.

This was a tragic accident. Preventable? An investigation will soon tell.

Deliberate sabotage - very unlikely as it was weather related.

Looks like the Italian authorities are going for investigating shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable homicide.

How does this work/fit in with the UK investigation into the causes?

Yes, maybe the mind turns to magical thinking when there is such a terrible event. I get that Mike Lynch and his attorney being in the same boat and therefore sadly dying at the same time is eminently logical, but his Co defendant dying of an accident in the same week is just extraordinary. I’m not sure conspiracy theory is the right term here either but I’ll let it rest out of respect for the deceased’s families.

I’m not sure, but I imagine a criminal case would take precedence. In any event, experts would be examining the robot footage of the wreckage etc and hopefully either can share their report or investigators get access to the same footage afterwards.

This is why I was asking last night about who would lead the investigation and pointing out that in parallel industries the agency of the country where in accident happens has primacy, not the agency of the country where the vessel was registered.

Looks to me as if the Italians have the lead and they are running the investigation along judicial lines (similar would happen elsewhere in europe) the likes of the UK MAIB may well have input but they are not in control.

IMO and the opinion of others threatening legal action from the get go can be really counterproductive in an accident investigation but different countries have different philosophies.

Depends where you are in the world.

Uk side, aviation, it has traditionally been the other way around - usually the AAIB get to do their bit and try and run an enquiry without apportioning blame.

The CPS/police should only really get involved after that but there are signs (in at least one recent air recent accident) that the police\CPS are increasingly keen to get involved very early, which may not be helpful.

IMO and the opinion of others threatening legal action from the get go can be really counterproductive in an accident investigation but different countries have different philosophies.

I can see it all getting very messy and convoluted. If it comes down to human error, poor decision making, how far can that be criminalised?

Whatever the cause I do not believe it was deliberate.

It doesn't have to be deliberate to attract a criminal charge - see the Zeebrugge disaster mentioned upthread:

In October 1987, a coroner's inquest jury into the capsizing returned 187 verdicts of unlawful killing.[33] Seven people involved at the company were charged with gross negligence manslaughter, and the operating company, P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd, was charged with corporate manslaughter, but the case collapsed after Mr Justice Turner directed the jury to acquit the company and the five most senior individual defendants.[34] This was because the various acts of negligence could not be attributed to any individual who was a so-called "controlling mind". It did, however, set a precedent that corporate manslaughter is an offence known to the law of England and Wales. The disaster was one of a number that influenced thinking leading to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.[35].

The Italian prosecutors are holding a press conference tomorrow so we will find out more then.

The last body has now been recovered. RIP to the seven lost souls.

Thanks @SheilaFentiman. I hope for all those bereaved the process does not drag on too long.

The last body has now been recovered. RIP to the seven lost souls.

I am relieved it has been recovered but it is very sad.

Apologies, that message above was an error.

The press conference has now been held, recommend all go and read it.

Interesting point:

Deputy Prosecutor Cammarano explains that the reason why almost all the crew, except for the yacht's chef, managed to get to safety and the passengers didn't, is likely that the passengers were asleep at the time of the incident.
He also adds that, based on what they know now, it is unlikely that a waterspout caused the sinking of the Bayesian. Instead, it appears to have been caused by a downburst.
A downburst is a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground, generally in an unpredictable manner.

From here

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3vxzw3kw77t

Microbursts/downbursts associated with Cumulonimbus can really ruin your day, interesting to see it is being considered as a possible factor

www.weather.gov/ama/microbursts

Thanks @notimagain

I think I’m going to stay on this thread- it’s calm and informative vs some batshit speculation otherwhere!

I’m hoping that because they were asleep, it was quick. Poor people. I’m thinking particularly of the young woman who was looking forward to going to university. Hannah.

It is very sad @BESTAUNTB

Unfortunately it seems from the press conference that they were all awake at least some of the time, because they were all in one of two cabins on the left hand side, having moved there because they were uppermost.

Thanks for this link.

Have to say I'm impressed with the Italian press conference. Very calm, clear and informative but without any speculation.

I liked the bit where he told the media they may work lightning fast but investigations don't. Hopefully that made them stop and think a bit. There's real people and real Iives involved here. We need the right answers not any old answer to serve as click bait.

Yes - I think as with the MH370 and other transport investigations, a slow and detailed approach will give some answers.

How awful. Poor souls.

I liked the bit where he told the media they may work lightning fast but investigations don't.

^^ This times a thousand..

Hopefully that made them stop and think a bit

You'd hope so but I wouldn't bet on it....a proper investigation will take months, could go well over if there are novel factors involved but sadly some will start claiming a cover up if the findings aren"t out and somebody isn't being prosecuted by this time next week.