Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 19, 2002
Four Killed, Dozens Injured in Plane Crash in Italy
The death toll rose from two to four on Thursday after a small tourist plane slammed into a high-rise government building in the city of Milan, Italy. According to reports from Rome, dozens of people were also injured in the incident.
The death toll rose from two to four on Thursday after a small tourist plane slammed into a high-rise government building in the city of Milan, Italy.
According to reports from Rome, dozens of people were also injured in the incident.
The plane crashed into the 24th and 25th floors of the high-rise building, creating a large hole in the skyscraper, known as Pirelli Building in the city that houses government offices.
Police were seen cordoned off the area while rescue operation is still going on. From the TV screen, smoke can be seen pouring out from the opening, and a helicopter hovering over the damaged building.
4 Killed, Dozens Injured in Plane Crash in Italy
Light Plane Manned by Italian Pilot
Italy's Lombardy Region sources said on Thursday the light plane which ploughed into a Milan skyscraper Thursday was manned by an Italian pilot, Mino Fasulo, who took off shortly before from Locarno airport, in Switzerland.
The sources said Fasulo sent an SOS call, warning that he had problems with the plane's undercarriage.
Fasulo, who was the only person aboard, was among the three people reported dead.
The Swiss news agency ATS confirmed that the Piper left Locarnoairport at 17:15 local time. It had been scheduled to land at Milan's Linate airport.
Italian Interior Minister Claudio Scajola immediately left for Milan while Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi huddled in his Rome office with Italian Deputy Premier Gianfranco Fini and Defence Minister Antonio Martino.