Italian authorities are investigating the captain of a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily, resulting in the tragic death of seven individuals, according to reports on Monday. The captain, 51-year-old James Cutfield from New Zealand, is facing scrutiny for potential charges of manslaughter and culpable shipwreck. It is important to note that being under investigation in Italy does not equate to being deemed guilty or automatically lead to criminal prosecution.

The prosecutor’s office in Termini Imerese has not responded to requests for confirmation regarding the reports. Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio has revealed that an investigation has been initiated, although no specific suspect has been singled out yet. The investigative team will explore all possible avenues of responsibility, examining the roles of the captain, crew members, supervisors, and even the yacht’s manufacturer in the incident.

The tragedy occurred last Monday when the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht named The Bayesian, declared as “unsinkable” by its manufacturer Perini Navi, sank near Sicily. The vessel, carrying British businessman Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, and five others, went down swiftly while a nearby sailboat remained relatively unscathed. Investigators are particularly interested in determining the cause of the rapid sinking, considering factors like a possible “downburst,” a sudden and powerful localized wind that can emerge from a thunderstorm.

Among the 15 survivors of the incident, the captain was one, while regrettably the yacht’s chef and six passengers were unable to escape the sinking vessel. Further details regarding the progress of the investigation have not been disclosed at this time.