A dramatic incident shook the road section near the city of Brescia in Northern Italy, when a small aircraft crashed during an emergency landing attempt. The tragedy claimed the lives of two people and triggered a large-scale rescue operation.
According to initial data from local authorities, the Freccia RG model aircraft – an ultralight vessel made of carbon fiber with a wingspan of around 9 meters, suffered a severe accident. The machine suddenly descended nose-first and exploded upon impact with the road surface.
The victims of the crash have been identified as 75-year-old pilot Sergio Ravaglia – a lawyer from Milan, and his 60-year-old partner Anna Maria De Stefano. The local publication Giornale di Brescia reported that both died instantly during the explosion.
Witnesses said that the experienced pilot tried to perform an emergency landing but failed to regain control of the aircraft's speed and steering. This critical moment predetermined the fatal outcome of the situation.
Two drivers who were near the crash site were also injured. The first rescue teams arrived quickly on the scene, but the aircraft was already completely destroyed by the intense fire that had erupted.
The Brescia prosecutor's office immediately began an investigation into involuntary manslaughter. By Wednesday, an expert from the Italian National Aviation Safety Agency is expected to arrive and participate in the detailed investigation of the incident.
A thorough review of the aircraft's remains and a comprehensive check of its technical condition before the ill-fated flight are pending. The investigation will need to establish the exact causes that led to this tragic air disaster.
Local authorities and rescue services continue to work on documenting and analyzing all circumstances surrounding the incident, which claimed the lives of two people and shocked the local community.