Chilling moment: Italian Air Force demonstration plane falls from sky and crashes into car, killing five-year-old girl after bird strike
- You can see the MB339 fighter fall from the sky before crashing to the ground
An Italian Air Force demonstration plane crashed after a bird strike, causing the wreckage to collide with a car and killing a five-year-old girl.
Dramatic footage of the MB339 fighter plummeting from the sky was captured by passers-by who had gathered to watch the Frecce Tricolore show 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 altitude.
In the video clip, the plane is seen in formation with other jets, but then quickly loses altitude as the others pull away as part of the screen.
Cars are seen lining a perimeter road and then captures the dramatic moment the pilot ejects before the plane crashes into the ground and explodes in a fireball.
Dramatic footage shows the MB339 fighter plummeting from the sky before crashing into a car and killing a five-year-old girl
Shocked onlookers watched the crash at the Frecce Tricolore display near Turin
The pilot escaped without injury and was taken to the nearby Giovanni Bosch Hospital in Turin, but paramedics were unable to save the girl.
Officials said her brother was also seriously injured in the tragedy and her parents escaped unharmed but were treated for shock.
The display was part of the centenary celebrations of the Italian Air Force and all other aircraft involved landed safely and the display was immediately canceled.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on
‘Except for the pilot, who jumped out at the last minute with his parachute.
A terrifying tragedy. A prayer and a hug of closeness.’
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 had a bird strike that caused it to lose altitude
He added: “The news is shocking and we are deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving a member of the Frecce Tricolori whose aircraft was dramatically involved in a crash with a vehicle carrying a family.
‘The ministry expresses its solidarity with the family members, aware that there are irreconcilable losses and that it would never want to receive such news.
‘By maintaining a respectful and appropriate silence, the Ministry of Defense will make available all resources and capabilities to manage the emergency and support all people involved. Any further details will be released as soon as possible.”
Nearby Turin Airport was temporarily closed after the accident to allow the demonstration team to land before reopening later.
Since its founding in 1961, the Frecce has been involved in several accidents, the most serious in 1988 at an air show at Ramstein in Germany, where three aircraft collided killing the pilots and a further 67 on the ground were struck by the wreck.