Military planes collide over Rome, both pilots killed

(Patria) - Two Siai 60° Stormo military aircraft collided today shortly before 12 PM near Rome.

One of the planes crashed in a field near the town of Guidonia, while the other crashed onto a street between houses in this town on the outskirts of Rome.

Both pilots were killed, reports Corriere della Sera.

 

Incidente aereo #Guidonia. pic.twitter.com/DHTEtjfs0N

— Safety (@SafetyAndrea) March 7, 2023

The accident site has been cordoned off by rescuers who are checking if any other people were injured in the crash, Index.hr reports. A police investigation is underway.

Italian media report that Lieutenant Colonel Daniele Cipriano and officer Marco Meneghello, who served in Guidonia, were killed.

According to unofficial information, four aircraft took off from the Guidonia military airport for a training flight over a nearby village, and it is unclear how they ended up in the sky over the city.

They were performing maneuvers when the two touched and lost control.

"The two pilots were in U-208 training aircraft and were participating in a training mission.

The U-208 aircraft is a light aircraft that can carry a maximum of four passengers in addition to the pilot and fly at a speed of no more than 285 km/h," the military announced.

The other two pilots landed safely and will be interviewed in the next few hours.