Two people died when a small plane crashed onto a highway in Brescia, Italy.
An ultralight aircraft crashed on a highway in Azzano Mella, northern Italy. The accident left two dead and two slightly injured. The violent explosion after the impact was captured on cameras.
Charred remains of the ultralight plane that crashed on a road in Italy
An ultralight aircraft crashed at noon on Tuesday on a highway in Azzano Mella, a town in the province of Brescia, northern Italy. The accident left two people on board dead and two drivers with minor injuries. Security cameras installed in the area captured the exact moment of impact, showing how the aircraft plummeted and exploded upon hitting the pavement.
Aboard the plane were Sergio Ravaglia, a 75-year-old lawyer, and Anna Maria De Stefano, 50, who died instantly due to the force of the impact. The explosion generated a fireball that engulfed the plane in a matter of seconds, making any rescue attempt impossible. Firefighters and emergency personnel arrived quickly, but there was nothing they could do.
Two vehicles traveling on the highway at the time were hit by the blast. Their drivers were treated for minor injuries and taken to a nearby medical center, where they are out of danger.
The accident caused a stir in the region, both for its spectacular nature and for the shock it left among those who witnessed the scene. The Brescia prosecutor's office has launched an investigation under the heading of negligent homicide to clarify the causes of the incident. For the time being, the possibility of additional victims being involved has been ruled out.
The video of the incident went viral on social media and shows how several vehicles managed to avoid the explosion and speed away, just moments after the collision. The footage also shows that the small plane was descending uncontrollably, although technical reports are still awaited to determine exactly what happened.
This latest incident occurs at a time when flight-related tragedies have made headlines around the world. Days ago, in Bangladesh, a military aircraft crashed into a school in Dhaka, killing 31 people, including at least 25 children. It was a Chinese-made F-7 BGI, which reportedly suffered a mechanical failure. The fire that erupted after the impact trapped several students, while witnesses tried to extinguish the flames with whatever they had at hand.
Also in India, just over a month ago, an Air India plane crashed into a student dormitory at a medical school in Ahmedabad. The crash left a total of 260 dead: 241 passengers and crew, plus 19 people on the ground. The preliminary investigation points to possible inadvertent action by the pilot, as an abrupt fuel cutoff was detected from the cockpit. A report cited by The Wall Street Journal indicates that the switches regulating fuel flow were turned off within just one second of each other, resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Faced with this situation, European authorities have strengthened aircraft inspection and maintenance protocols, especially for private and recreational flights. Meanwhile, the community of Azzano Mella remains in a state of shock following the unexpected accident that completely disrupted the calm of an ordinary day on the road.
