2002 Pirelli Tower plane crash
Encyclopedia
On April 18, 2002, a Rockwell Commander 112 crashed into the upper floors of the Pirelli Tower
in Milan
, Italy, for reasons still unclear. The crash killed the pilot and two others in the building at 17:48 (local time). Sixty more people sustained injuries in the building and on the ground.
The crash aroused fears of another terrorist attack because of the crash similarity to the September 11th attacks, which had occurred months earlier. However, an investigation that took place after the crash ruled out terrorism.
Airport in Switzerland
eighteen minutes before the crash. Later as the plane flew over Milan, Italy the pilot radioed to the control tower at Linate Airport
that there was a problem with the retractable landing gear. The tower was arranging an emergency landing. Suddenly the pilot left, leaving another aircraft saying, "No, they told you to land, not me!". Minutes later, at 17:48 local time, the small plane crashed into the Pirelli Tower
. The vibration of the crash caused shop windows to break and littered the surroundings with debris and glass. The pilot and two female lawyers present inside the building were killed.
Between thirty and forty people were taken to the hospital with moderate injuries, while fire fighters contained the fire that resulted from the crash. Immediately after the crash, the nearby Milan central railway station, metro station
and the Linate airport
were shut down.
The pilot was in fact victim of a scam that brought him close to bankruptcy, so the possibility of a spectacular suicide is plausible.
and Europe
fell sharply and business trading in Milan
was suspended. The fears abated when investigators concluded that the crash was not an act of terrorism.
Pirelli Tower
The Pirelli Tower , is a skyscraper in Milan, Italy.-History:...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy, for reasons still unclear. The crash killed the pilot and two others in the building at 17:48 (local time). Sixty more people sustained injuries in the building and on the ground.
The crash aroused fears of another terrorist attack because of the crash similarity to the September 11th attacks, which had occurred months earlier. However, an investigation that took place after the crash ruled out terrorism.
Incident
The plane, piloted by 65 year old Luigi Fasulo, took off from MagadinoMagadino
Magadino is a former municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.On 25 April 2010, the former municipalities of Caviano, Contone, Gerra Gambarogno, Indemini, Magadino, Piazzogna, San Nazzaro, Sant'Abbondio and Vira Gambarogno merged in the new municipality of...
Airport in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
eighteen minutes before the crash. Later as the plane flew over Milan, Italy the pilot radioed to the control tower at Linate Airport
Linate Airport
Linate Airport is one of the three major airports of Milan, Italy, along with Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio Airport. Due to its closer proximity to Milan—it is east southeast of the city, compared with Malpensa, which is northwest of the city—it is mainly used for domestic and short-haul...
that there was a problem with the retractable landing gear. The tower was arranging an emergency landing. Suddenly the pilot left, leaving another aircraft saying, "No, they told you to land, not me!". Minutes later, at 17:48 local time, the small plane crashed into the Pirelli Tower
Pirelli Tower
The Pirelli Tower , is a skyscraper in Milan, Italy.-History:...
. The vibration of the crash caused shop windows to break and littered the surroundings with debris and glass. The pilot and two female lawyers present inside the building were killed.
Between thirty and forty people were taken to the hospital with moderate injuries, while fire fighters contained the fire that resulted from the crash. Immediately after the crash, the nearby Milan central railway station, metro station
Milan Metro
The Milan Metro is the rapid transit system serving Milan, Italy, operated by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi. Milan metro is the longest metro system in Italy, and is the core of the Milan Transportation System...
and the Linate airport
Linate Airport
Linate Airport is one of the three major airports of Milan, Italy, along with Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio Airport. Due to its closer proximity to Milan—it is east southeast of the city, compared with Malpensa, which is northwest of the city—it is mainly used for domestic and short-haul...
were shut down.
Investigation
Italian officials conducted an investigation after the crash. The cause of the crash was never exactly determined, but the most plausible reason is an accident or a suicide.The pilot was in fact victim of a scam that brought him close to bankruptcy, so the possibility of a spectacular suicide is plausible.
Aftermath
The crash aroused fears of another terrorist attack since it occurred seven months after the September 11th attacks. Because of this, stock markets around the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
fell sharply and business trading in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
was suspended. The fears abated when investigators concluded that the crash was not an act of terrorism.
See also
- 1945 Empire State Building CrashB-25 Empire State Building crashThe B-25 Empire State Building crash was a 1945 aircraft accident in which a B-25 Mitchell piloted in thick fog crashed into the Empire State Building...
- January 5, 2002 Tampa plane crash
- October 11, 2006 New York City plane crash