Horrifying moment: Italian Air Force demonstration plane plunges from sky and crashes into car, killing five-year-old girl following bird strike
- MB339 fighter can be seen falling from the sky before crashing to the ground
An Italian Air Force display plane crashed following a bird strike. The wreck hit a car and killed a five-year-old girl.
Dramatic footage of the MB339 fighter jet plunging from the sky was filmed by passers-by gathered to watch the Frecce Tricolore spectacle near Turin.
The unit is the equivalent of Britain’s Red Arrows and accident investigators are working on the theory that the plane suffered a bird strike that caused it to lose height.
In the video clip, the plane is seen in formation with other jets, but then quickly loses height as the others break away as part of the display.
Cars can be seen along a ring road, then the dramatic moment of the pilot ejecting is captured before the plane plunges into the ground and explodes in a fireball.
Dramatic footage shows the MB339 fighter jet plunging from the sky before crashing into a car and killing a five-year-old girl.
Horrified spectators witnessed the accident at the Frecce Tricolore site, near Turin.
The pilot escaped without injury and was taken to nearby Giovanni Bosch Hospital in Turin, but paramedics were unable to save the girl.
Authorities said his brother was also seriously injured in the tragedy and his parents escaped unharmed but were treated for shock.
The exhibition was part of a celebration of the centenary of the Italian Air Force and all other aircraft involved landed safely and the exhibition was immediately canceled.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on brother and his parents.
“Except the pilot who jumped with his parachute at the last moment.
A frightening tragedy. A prayer and a close hug.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Guido Crosetto expressed his “deepest condolences” for the tragedy.
The unit is the equivalent of Britain’s Red Arrows and accident investigators are working on the theory that the plane suffered a bird strike that caused it to lose height.
He added: “The news shocked and we are deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving a member of the Frecce Tricolori whose plane was dramatically involved in an accident with a vehicle with a family on board.
“The Ministry expresses its closeness to the family members, aware that there are insurmountable losses and that it would never want to receive such news.
“By maintaining a respectful and due silence, the Ministry of Defense will make available all resources and capabilities for the management of the emergency and to support all those involved. Any further details will be released as soon as possible.
The nearby Turin airport was temporarily closed after the accident to allow the demonstration team to land before later reopening.
Since their creation in 1961, the Frecce have been involved in several accidents, the most serious occurring in 1988 during an aerial demonstration at Ramstein in Germany, where three planes collided, killing the pilots and 67 others on the ground. were affected by the wreck.
