A young pilot died after his light aircraft crashed into a power pole and narrowly missed homes and people on the ground.
Daniel Taino, 26, was killed when the Cessna 152 came down in a residential area just a few hundred metres from the runway yesterday (1 June) afternoon.
His passenger, a 19-year-old student pilot, was found screaming inside the wreckage, according to witnesses.
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He suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
The 1981-built aircraft is believed to have suddenly lost altitude while flying over Valbrembo, near Bergamo, Italy, as reported by Need To Know.
Witnesses said Daniel, who was also a flight instructor, appeared to be trying to steer the aircraft away from nearby houses before it struck a concrete electricity pole and crashed to the ground at around 130 knots (150mph).
Daniel died at the scene.
One eyewitness, who was standing just yards from the impact site, told local media: “I saw the aircraft losing altitude and hit a concrete electricity pole.
“It veered sideways and ended up striking the roof of my car, then the fence of a house.
“I was tying up tomato plants in my mother-in-law’s garden.
“If I had been in the car, I might not be here to tell the story.”
Another witness said: “I heard the bang. I thought two cars had collided and ran over to see.
“I found the aircraft destroyed, and inside there was that boy screaming.
“But I couldn’t open the door, it was completely deformed.
“I tried to lever it open from the tail, but there was nothing I could do.”
Emergency services arrived within minutes and rescued the teenager from the wreckage before taking him to hospital.
Daniel was originally from Pianengo, while the student pilot, identified only as M.A., is of Egyptian origin and lives in the Milan area.
The pair had reportedly been flying over the River Brembo after carrying out a touch-and-go manoeuvre when the aircraft encountered difficulties.
It is suspected the plane’s single engine may have failed, although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Daniel obtained his private pilot’s licence while still a teenager before going on to become an airline pilot and professional flight instructor – a career progression that can take many years to achieve.
At the age of 22, he also founded a drone business providing aerial surveys and filming services for local companies.
He is survived by his father Carlo, mother Debora and younger brothers Nicholas and Eric.
Italy’s civil aviation safety authority, ANSV, has launched an investigation into the tragedy.
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