Romanian billionaire Dan Petrescu was killed on Sunday when his plane crashed into a building in Milan.
The privately owned aircraft hit a vacant two-storey office block in the district of San Donato Milanese, killing all eight people on board, including Petrescu’s wife and son.
The small jet came down shortly after take-off from Milan’s Linate Airport and was flying to Olbia Airport on the Italian island of Sardinia.
A thick column of dark smoke rose from the site and was visible for kilometres. Several cars parked nearby went up in flames.
Petrescu, 68, was reported by Romanian media to be one of the richest people in his native country, with a personal net worth of more than €1 billion ($1.16 billion).
Holding both Romanian and German citizenship, he kept a low profile as he built up a fortune in the post-Communist era.
Milan prosecutor Tiziana Siciliano said the flight was proceeding until “a certain point, then an anomaly appeared on the radar screen and it plunged”, striking the building’s roof.
She said control tower officials reported the anomaly and the plane had not sent an alarm, but the flight recorder had been retrieved.
Petrescu was reported to be the pilot of the single-engine Pilatus PC-12. The plane had flown from Bucharest, Romania’s capital, to Milan on September 30 with no apparent problem.
The Italian news agency Ansa quoted the national air safety agency, ANSV, as saying: “The plane hit the building and started burning.”
Fire officials initially said the plane had crashed into the building’s facade. But following further inspection, the prosecutor said, it was apparent that it had struck the roof.
Firefighters extinguished the flames, which caused extensive damage.
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
