An Italian Air Force Eurofighter F-2000A crashed east of Trapani Birgi military airport around 18.30 CET.
The aircraft was landing after carrying out a training mission over western Sicily.
Immediately after the loss of contact with the aircraft, an Italian Air Force Leonardo HH-139B (reg. MM82029) took off from Trapani AB to conduct a first search and rescue mission.
A second SAR mission carried out by the same HH-139B (reg. MM82029) started around 21.00 CET.
Unfortunately, the news arrived during the night that the pilot died in the crash.