Milan Tower Crash Ruled Accidental

Associated Press | April 17 2003

[knighthawk]

MILAN, Italy - Prosecutors want to close their investigation into last year's crash of a plane into Milan's landmark Pirelli tower after deciding the incident likely was an accident, officials said Thursday.

The 67-year-old pilot was the only person who could be held responsible and he was killed, so there was no reason to continue the case, judicial officials said. A judge will now decide whether to endorse the prosecutors' findings.

Pilot Luigi Fasulo and two workers inside the Pirelli tower were killed April 18, 2002, when his Rockwell Commander 112TC slammed into the building, triggering memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

However, Italian authorities soon ruled out terrorism, suggesting the plane experienced mechanical problems, Fasulo fell ill at the controls or Fasulo killed himself.

Investigators said suicide did not seem to be the cause.

Air-safety officials said in February the "most probable" cause was that the pilot could not steer the aircraft due to technical difficulties. The National Agency of Air Security also criticized instructions from the control tower at Milan's Linate airport.

However, Milan prosecutors decided no one else could be held responsible for the accident.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[eno_]

Damn bad luck to hit a tall building when you can't steer.

[Reeses]

Investigators said suicide did not seem to be the cause.

How can investigators be so stupid? Is it they are afraid of getting sued by the next of kin when the life insurance company doesn't pay? It's only an greedy capitalist insurance company's money anyway. How ironic the pilot took a lawyer with him.

[eno_]

The plane that struck the Empire State Building did so in zero visibility fog. The Concorde, of course, fell on to a building.

This plane struck a building that the pilot could see literally miles away.

This is still pretty fishy. Suicide, with some intention of harming Pirelli, or some other motive. Probably not by chance.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the update, knighthawk.

[eno_]

At my grandmother's funeral, I met her old boyfriend from the Old Country. He was 97, and had a grip like iron. Not just fit, he was buff. His doc told him to cut down on workouts about a year ago. I sure hope 67 isn't feeble old age. I also know former Olympic skiers pushing 70 that can still ski away from me. Heck, next year I plan to buy freeride skis and learn how to play in the terrain park.

[knighthawk]

At your service!