Plane Nosedives Into Italian Highway, Killing Two in Fiery Crash

A terrifying plane crash in northern Italy has left two people dead after an ultralight aircraft plunged nose-first into a busy highway, erupting into flames just feet from passing vehicles.

Caught on Camera

Horrifying footage captured from a vehicle on the Corda Molle ring road in Brescia shows the Freccia RG aircraft falling steeply from the sky before slamming into the pavement. A massive fireball followed, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air.

Remarkably, several cars drove through the flames without crashing, though two motorists were injured with non-life-threatening burns.

Victims Identified

The crash claimed the lives of pilot Sergio Ravaglia, a 75-year-old lawyer from Milan, and his partner Anna Maria De Stefano, 60. They had taken off from the Gagnano Trebbiense airstrip in the Piacenza region earlier that day.

Witnesses Describe the Horror

Eyewitnesses reported the plane flying unusually low. One driver, Enzo Bregoli, said the aircraft suddenly spun out of control and dropped straight down:

“The moment it touched the asphalt, it immediately caught fire. If he had just turned a little, it could’ve hit me.”

Another driver, Claudio Nolli, said she passed through the explosion itself:

“I saw a burst of flame and drove right into it. Then came a loud bang — a ball of fire. For 20 seconds, I thought I was going to die.”

Investigators Seek Answers

Authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation. Italy’s National Agency for Flight Safety has dispatched a consultant to examine the wreckage and determine whether maintenance issues played a role.

Investigators say the aircraft, an Italian-built Freccia RG, didn’t need to declare its destination due to loose regulations for ultralight planes. The crash has prompted questions about safety oversight for this class of aircraft.