ROME– In the late morning, a loud crash was heard followed by clouds of smoke and rain of debris as two aircrafts collided near Guidonia Montecelio, a town on the outskirts of Rome.

 The aircraft carried no passengers, but the pilots on board died in the crash, Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Cipriano, 48 and Major Marco Meneghello, 46. 

 Both of the pilots worked for the Air Force and were “expert pilots, they flew on various means. They had been in force for many years with the 60th Wing and the Guidonia Flight Group." said Air Force general Silvano Frigerio. 

 According to one of the eyewitnesses “The pilot did something to avoid the buildings, he dodged them. In my opinion, a maneuver to pardon us, because he could have taken the buildings.” 

 Had it not been for the experience of the pilots, they might not have been able to avoid the buildings and the crash would have caused more victims and death due to the “rain of debris” said the prosecutor of Tivoli, Francesco Menditto. 

 According to Air Force general Silvano Frigerio, the collision of the planes occurred post-landing during a training exercise that involved a total of four pilots and four aircrafts, but the two other planes remained unharmed. 

 The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella,  sent the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, a message expressing his condolences for the deaths of the two pilots in a message that read “the tragic plane crash in which Lt. Col. Giuseppe Cipriano and Major Marco Meneghello lost their lives, while they were engaged in flying activities - reads the message -, aroused deep emotion throughout the country. In this sad circumstance, please convey to the Air Force and the families of the two officers my feelings of condolences, solidarity, and intense participation in the pain of the relatives".

 The brother of Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Cipriano also spoke out about the incident saying: "He was a golden person, a special person - he continues -. He truly gave his soul and his life. My brother didn't fly for a job. He really did it out of passion. He has always done it, throughout his life , ever since he was a boy. He was an instructor, according to his students, one of the best ever met. He truly gave his soul for his students, for the Air Force, and for the Italian flag. He was a special person. At the moment we are about to go to Rome. We are leaving Potenza, in Basilicata, with my parents. As I said to the general of the Air Force who called me, my desire is to keep my brother's name high”.

 Investigations are still determining the cause of the incident.

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