Mike Lynch’s yacht captain departs Sicily in a private jet

Ten days after the British software tycoon and six other individuals perished in the vessel’s sinking off the coast of Sicily, the captain of Mike Lynch’s yacht took sail from Palermo on Thursday.

An investigation source stated that James Cutfield departed the capital of Sicily aboard a private jet, albeit it was not clear where the flight was headed. Cutfield, a resident of New Zealand, resides in Palma, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, with his spouse.

Cutfield was placed under investigation this week for both shipwreck and manslaughter, and on Tuesday, he refused to respond to inquiries from the prosecution.

On Wednesday, two more members of the crew were placed under investigation. An investigation does not indicate guilt and does not guarantee official charges will be brought.

Investigators are not need to stay in Italy, but those under investigation must designate attorneys so that the authorities can stay in touch with them.

A pre-dawn storm struck the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged boat Bayesian as it was anchored off the coast of northern Sicily on August 19. Within minutes, the yacht overturned and sank.

The Italian luxury yacht builder Perini built the Bayesian, which is sinking. According to naval maritime specialists, the vessel should have withstood the storm and should not have sunk as soon as it did.