A light aircraft departing from the town of Gragnano-Trebbiense on 22/7 crashed onto the busy A21 highway near Azzano Mella in the Brescia province, approximately 100 km away. The plane immediately burst into flames.
The accident brought traffic to a standstill, prompting a rescue operation that lasted several hours. The aircraft was completely destroyed. The two occupants, a 75-year-old lawyer and his 60-year-old wife, died in the crash.
Security camera footage shows the aircraft plummeting almost vertically onto the highway. The resulting fire engulfed two nearby vehicles. One driver escaped unharmed, while another was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. A third car, a blue one, managed to stop in time.
Enzo Bregolo, a witness driving about 50 meters from the crash site, reported seeing the low-flying aircraft approaching from his right.
"I was about to take the highway exit and started to slow down when I saw the plane. There were no signs of trouble, at least not then. Suddenly, I realized the plane was losing altitude rapidly, 30 m, then 20 m. It seemed like the pilot lost control abruptly. It all happened in a flash," Enzo recounted.
He then swerved into the emergency lane to avoid the flames. Other drivers immediately called for help.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The Brescia prosecutor's office is investigating the incident as manslaughter.
Duc Trung (Brescia Today, Brescia Corriere, Il Giorno)
