“The patrol had barely taken off (…) when for reasons unknown at the moment the piloted aircraft lost altitude and crashed to the ground,” said the Italian Defense Ministry.
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A 5-year-old girl died on Saturday September 16 when a plane from a military acrobatic patrol crashed near Turin, northern Italy, during a training exercise, the ministry announced. of the defense. The accident occurred when a training plane, an MB-339, plunged during takeoff.
“The patrol had barely taken off (…) when for reasons unknown at the moment the aircraft piloted by Major Oscar Del Do lost altitude and crashed to the ground”specifies a press release from the ministry. “The pilot, just before the impact, managed to eject. It is not possible at the moment to confirm the causes of the accident. One of the hypotheses considered, given the dynamics of the event, is a impact with a bird during the very first phases of takeoff”a situation called “Bird strike”, adds the press release.
His nine-year-old brother seriously injured
“The fire which occurred following the impact of the device against the ground unfortunately affected a passing car (…) with four people on board, causing the death of a little girl and injuries to her three other passengers in the vehicle”concludes the press release.
The little girl had come with her parents to watch the planes of the Italian Air Force’s acrobatic patrol train for a flight planned for the next day, but which was canceled following the accident. His nine-year-old brother was seriously injured, while his two parents and the pilot were also injured, but none of them were in serious condition, according to media reports.