Tragic Ultralight Aircraft Crash on Italian Motorway Claims Two Lives

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Local sources from Italy: MilanoToday, Geopop.
UK coverage: GB News.

In a harrowing incident that unfolded on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 22, a light aircraft met with a tragic fate as it crashed into a motorway in the province of Brescia, Italy, leaving two people dead and causing chaos on the road. The aircraft, identified as a Promecc Aerospace Freccia RG ultralight, was piloted by 75-year-old Milan lawyer Sergio Ravaglia with his partner, 50-year-old Anna Maria De Stefano, as the passenger. Both occupants were killed upon impact. The crash also resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two motorists who swerved to avoid the aircraft as it descended onto the highway in a fiery explosion. The incident occurred near the Corda Molle interchange, connecting the A4 to the A21 motorway at Azzano Mella, and was captured on highway CCTV, showcasing the terrifying moments as the plane nosedived into the busy roadway. The footage has since been widely circulated, drawing attention to the dangers associated with ultralight aviation. According to reports from MilanoToday and Geopop, authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which remains uncertain. The aircraft had taken off from the runway at Gagnano Trebbiense and was flying straight for about 70 kilometers before it crashed. The Brescia prosecutor’s office has opened a manslaughter case to probe into the circumstances surrounding the tragic event, considering human error or a malfunction as possible causes. The lack of a black box in ultralight aircraft complicates the investigation, though footage suggests the aircraft may have experienced an asymmetric stall, leading to the crash. Ultralight planes, like the Promecc Freccia, are subject to limited regulations, which poses challenges in determining the exact cause of accidents. The crash has sparked discussions on the safety of ultralight aviation and the need for stricter regulations. Fire crews were promptly dispatched to the scene, where they worked for hours to extinguish the blaze and secure the area. The motorway was closed for a significant period, causing traffic disruptions. This tragic incident has left the community in mourning and raised questions about the safety measures associated with light aircraft flights, with investigations ongoing to uncover the precise dynamics of the crash.