Yesterday afternoon, during the takeoff phase from Turin Airport, an Italian Air Force Aermacchi MB.339 PAN of the Italian acrobatic team crashed. The pilot managed to eject while the aircraft hit a car, killing a 5-year-old girl. In this post, we try to summarize what happened by sticking to what we know for sure.
Around 4:45 PM, the acrobatic team, consisting of 9 MB.339 PANs, was taking off from Turin Caselle Airport to perform a performance in Vercelli, Piedmont. The following day it would participate in the air show organized by the Turin Aero Club for the 100th anniversary of the Italian Air Force.
During the takeoff phase, one aircraft in the formation (reg. MM54539 – c/s PONY4) suffered an engine failure that made the aircraft uncontrollable. The cause of the failure is unknown, but it has been suggested that it was a bird strike.
At that point, the pilot, Oscar Del Dò, had no choice but to eject.
The aircraft then impacted the ground within the airport grounds, but continued its run, breaking through the airport fence and hitting a car that was traveling on a road that borders the airport. The car was carrying a family of 4 people. Unfortunately, a 5-year-old girl on board died.
At this time, no further information has been provided.
