Leonardo clarifies that, taking into account the current status of the relevant investigation, any theory on the possible causes is premature.
The aircraft involved in the accident was an M-346 flown by a crew of two made of a Leonardo test pilot and an outsourced instructor pilot.
Unfortunately, the instructor pilot, who belonged to an external company, died in the accident.
The aircraft took to the air from Leonardo’s Venegono Superiore site (Varese – Italy) at 11:00AM following the technical checks prior to flight authorization, completed shortly ahead of take-off and performed in full compliance with the inspection plan authorized by the relevant aviation authorities.
The flight plan included trials aimed at demonstrating specific capabilities which had already been tested during several flights already carried out in the past.
At 11:35AM, any contact with the aircraft was lost. Thanks to the prompt responsiveness of the rescue teams, the aircraft wreckage was identified nearby Colico (Monte Legnone), between Como and Lecco in the Northern Italy. Leonardo’s Top Management express their most heartfelt condolences for the loss of the pilot. Their deepest sympathies are with his family.
