Crew testifies about Concordia disaster, says captain called off fly-by a week earlier

Captain Francesco Schettino arrives at the converted Teatro Moderno theater for a hearing in his trial, in Grosseto, Italy, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. The captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia is charged with manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and abandoning ship before the luxury cruise liner's 4,200 passengers and crew could be evacuated on Jan. 13, 2012 when the ship collided with a reef off the Tuscan island of Giglio, killing 32 people. (AP Photo/Giacomo Aprili) (The Associated Press)

GROSSETO, Italy – A crew member of the Costa Concordia is testifying about the chaos of the 2012 shipwreck, saying the captain had wanted to get close to the island of Giglio a week before the disaster but called it off because of rough seas.

First Deck Officer Giovanni Iaccarino said Monday he was in a crewmate's cabin using his Playstation when the ship ran aground. He said he ran to the bridge to discover the electronic panels all registering alarms that the ship had lost propulsion.

Iaccarino's testimony, the first of the Concordia trial, was interspersed with a videotaped re-enactment of his actions the night of Jan. 13, 2012. It was filmed aboard the Concordia's sister ship, the Costa Serena.

The captain is charged with manslaughter in the deaths of 32 people.